DUNG 


DONALD    AND   DOROTHY. 

HANS     BRINKER,    OR      THE 
SILVER  SKATES. 

THEOPHILUS    AND    OTHERS. 
ALONG    THE  WAY. 

RHYMES  AND    JINGLES  FOR 
LITTLE    FOLK. 

THE   LAND    OF    PLUCK. 


WHEN  LIFE  IS  YOUNG 


WHEN  LIFE  IS  YOUNG 


A  COLLECTION  OF  YERSE 
FOR  BOYS  AND  GIRLS 


BY 


MARY  MAPES  DODGE 

AUTHOR  OF  "  HANS  BRINKER  " 
"DONALD  AND  DOROTHY" 
"  RHYMES  AND  JINGLES  " 

ETC.,  ETC. 


NEW  YORK 

THE  CENTURY  CO. 
1894 


Copyright,  1894,  by 
THE  CENTURY  Co. 


THE  DEVINNE  PRESS. 


AUTHORS  NOTE- 

Many  of  the  verses  brought  together  in  this  book 
originally  appeared  in  "St.  Nicholas," — some  of 
them  unsigned,  some  under  various  pen-names, 
and  others  under  the  initials  M.  M.  D.  The  rest 
are  now  printed,  for  the  first  time. 

Acknowledgment  is  due  to  Mr.  Frank  French, 
and  to  his  publisher,  Mr.  C.  Klackner,  for  the 
frontispiece,  which,  so  fitly  illustrates  the  happy  days 
when  life  is  young. 


M705678 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

THE  MINUET 1 

A  DEAR  LITTLE  GOOSE 7 

THE  BEE-CHARMER .' 8 

CHRISTMAS 11 

THE  CALL  OF  THE  SEA 12 

A  PLUMP  LITTLE  GIRL  AND  A  THIN  LITTLE  BIRD 14 

THE  POET  WHO  COULD  N'T  WRITE  POETRY 15 

THE  WELL-READ  HUNTER 16 

POOR  MARIONETTE 20 

CONSIDER,  NOW,  A  PAINTER-MAN 22 

NORTHERLY 25 

A  BALL  's  A  BALL 26 

THE  NAUGHTY  LITTLE  EGYPTIAN 27 

SEEING  is  BELIEVING 33 

TELL  ME,  DAISY 34 

AN  OCEAN  NOTION 35 

ARAMANTHA  MEHITABEL  BROWN 38 

COMING  HOME 41 

SCHOOL-BOY  TROUBLES 43 

FANS 44 

EASY  EXPECTATIONS 46 

A  NEW  YEAR 47 

THE  ELF  AND  THE  SPIDER 48 

DANCING 51 

A  DEAR  LITTLE  SCHEMER 52 

THE  ROAD  TO  LEARNING 55 

THERE  's  A  SHIP  ON  THE  SEA 56 

MAKING  IT  SKIP 57 

THE  FANCY-DRESS  BALL 58 

xi 


xii  CONTENTS 

PAGE 

BILLY  BUTTERCUP 60 

THE  SWEET,  RED  ROSE 61 

AN  APRIL  GIRL 62 

THE  ZEALLESS  XYLOGRAPHER 65 

THE  LITTLE  GIRL  WHO  TRIED  TO  MIND 66 

THE  FAIR-MINDED  MEN  WHO  WALKED  TO  DONAHAN  ...  70 

A  BROWN  STUDY 73 

*'  A  Miss  is  AS  GOOD  AS  A  MILE  " 75 

OUT  OF  THE  SKY 76 

MY  DOG 78 

I  KNOW  A  LITTLE  MAIDEN 80 

A  NEW  SONG  TO  AN  OLD  TUNE 82 

IN  A  BREEZE 83 

INTERNATIONAL 84 

SURPRISE 85 

MOTHER 86 

"  PHILOPENA  !" 89 

CONFUSION 90 

PUZZLED  FAIRY-FOLK 92 

MILD  FARMER  JONES  AND  THE  NAUGHTY  BOY 94 

ALARMED 99 

WHAT  HAPPENED  TO  NELLY 100 

THE  SECRET 106 

THISTLES  ! 106 

JEANNETTE  AND  Jo 109 

MIDSUMMER  FROLICS Ill 

LITTLE  SQUIRRELS,  CRACK  YOUR  NUTS 112 

DOWN  BY  THE  SEA 113 

THE  TALE  OF  A  TUB 114 

THE  SAD  STORY  OF  LITTLE  JANE 117 

MOTHER'S  ARM 119 

A  SUGGESTION  FOR  A  HAPPY  NEW  YEAR 119 

UNSETTLED  120 

INFORMED 121 

THE  LETTERS  AT  SCHOOL  122 

FOUR  LITTLE  BIRDS 125 

DRESSING  MARY  ANN 126 

THE  FROG,  THE  CRAB  AND  THE  LIMPSY  EEL 131 


CONTENTS  xiii 

PAGE 

NEW-YEAR'S  DAY 132 

To  A  YOUNG  GIRL 133 

CAT'S-CRADLE 134 

SIGNS  OF  MAY 136 

JOHNNY  AND  MEG 138 

ON  THE  LAGOON . 138 

THE  PENSIVE  CRICKET 140 

POOR  JACK-IN-THE-BOX 143 

WHY 144 

SUNNY  DAYS 146 

ALICE  IN  WONDERLAND 148 

To  W.  F.  C 150 

THE  LITTLE  BIG  WOMAN  AND  THE  BIG  LITTLE  GIRL  . .  151 

NANNY  ANN 152 

THE  FOUR  LITTLE  IMPS 154 

THE  SMILING  DOLLY 156 

How  DO  BIRDS  FIRST  LEARN  TO  SING  ? 159 

CHRISTMAS  EVE 160 

THE  CIRCUS  CLOWN'S  DREAM 163 

AN  APPEAL 167 

ROBBY'S  SPAN 169 

His  REPORT 172 

EIGHT-DAY  CLOCKS 173 

TINSEL  WITHOUT,  BUT  METAL  WITHIN 175 

BERRY-TIME 176 

THE  THREE  TIGERS 178 

A  TERRIBLE  TIGER 179 

FAR  AWAY 180 

HANS  CHRISTIAN  ANDERSEN 182 

TROUBLED 185 

THE  FARMER  WHO  BECAME  DRUM-MAJOR 186 

COURTESY 191 

MAY-BLOSSOMS 192 

EIGHT  GOOD  THINGS  ABOUT  DOBBIN 193 

SIDE  BY  SIDE 194 

A  SMART  BOY 195 

SEVEN  LITTLE  PUSSY-CATS 196 

ELEVEN  LITTLE  PUSSY-CATS  . .  199 


xiv  CONTENTS 

PAGE 

JACK  AND  JLLL 200 

IN  HASTE 202 

SOAP-BUBBLES 203 

THE  PAMPERED  POODLE 204 

MASTER  THEODORE 206 

FORBIDDEN 209 

TEN  LITTLE  DOLLS 210 

JACK'S  WISH 211 

A  DUTCH  FAMILY 212 

LITTLE  Miss  KITTY   213 

" THE  WORTHY  POOR" 214 

JINGLE 216 

AFTER  TEA 217 

THE  SPRINT-RUNNER 219 

FUN  AT  GRANDMAMA'S 221 

THE  KNOWING  LITTLE  FISH 222 

THE  BEES  THAT  WENT  TO  THE  SKY 224 

LITTLE  CHARLEY 225 

THE  WINDMILL 226 

HAPPY  JOHNNY  ;  OR,  TAKING  LIFE  CHEERFULLY     228 

A  SANTA  CLAUS  MESSENGER-BOY 230 

SNOWFLAKES 231 

CALLING  THE  FLOWERS 232 

A  PHILOPENA 234 

THE  MAN  WHO  DID  N'T  KNOW  WHEN  TO  STOP 236 

THE  OREGON  EXPRESS 238 

How  WILLY'S  SHIP  CAME  BACK 239 

A  STIR  AMONG  THE  DAISIES 243 

THE  LITTLE  KINDERGARTEN  GIRL 244 

How  SHOCKING  ! • 246 

"  LITTLE  POT  SOON  HOT  " 247 

THE  BICYCLE  BOYS 248 

LITTLE  ROSY  RED-CHEEK 250 

Now  THE  NOISY  WINDS  ARE  STILL 252 

NOT  ONLY  IN  THE  CHRISTMAS- TlDE 254 

IN  TRUST  . .  255 


WHEN  LIFE  IS  YOUNG 


THE   MINUET 

GRANDMA  told  me  all  about  it, 
Told  me,  so  I  could  n't  doubt  it, 

How  she  danced  —  my  grandma  danced! 

Long  ago. 

How  she  held  her  pretty  head, 
How  her  dainty  skirt  she  spread. 
Turning  out  her  little  toes; 
How  she  slowly  leaned  and  rose  — 

Long  ago. 


THE  MINUET 

Grandma's  hair  was  bright  and  sunny  ; 
Dimpled  cheeks,  too  —  ah,  how  funny !  — 
Really  quite  a  pretty  girl, 

Long  ago. 

Bless  her!  why,  she  wears  a  cap, 
Grandma  does,  and  takes  a  nap 
Every  single  day;   and  yet 
Grandma  danced  the  minuet 

Long  ago. 

Now  she  sits  there,  rocking,  rocking, 
Always  knitting  Grandpa's  stocking; — 
Every  girl  was  taught  to  knit, 

Long  ago — 

Yet  her  figure  is  so  neat, 
And  her  way  so  staid  and  sweet, 
I  can  almost  see  her  now 
Bending  to  her  partner's  bow, 
Long  ago. 

Modern  ways  are  quite  alarming, 
Grandma  says;  but  boys  were  charming 
Girls  and  boys,  I  mean,  of  course  — 

Long  ago. 

Bravely  modest,  grandly  shy. 
What  if  all  of  us  should  try 
Just  to  feel  like  those  who  met 
In  the  graceful  minuet 

Long  ago? 


THE  MINUET 


IN   THE   GRACEFUL   MINUET. 


Grandma  says  our  modern  jumping, 
Hopping,  rushing,  whirling,  bumping, 
"Would  have  shocked  the  gentle  folk 
Long  ago; 


THE  MINUET 


No ;  they  moved  with  stately  grace, 
Everything  in  proper  place, 
Gliding  slowly  forward,  then 
Slowly  courtesying  back  again, 
Long  ago. 

With  the  minuet  in  fashion, 
Who  could  fly  into  a  passion? 


THE   MINUET 

All  would  wear  the  calm  they  wore 

Long  ago. 

In  time  to  come,  if  I,  perchance, 
Should  tell  my  grandchild  of  our  dance, 
I  should  really  like  to  say, 
"We  did  it,  dear,  in  stately  way, 

Long  ago." 


GEORGE    WASHINGTON    DANCING    THE    MINUET    WITH    SALLY    FAIRFAX. 


Ik 


• 


< 


'I'LL   WEAR   THE    SWEETEST   DRESSES, —  AND,  MAYBE,  HAVE   A   BEAU  !  " 


A  DEAR  LITTLE   GOOSE 

WHILE  I  'm  in  the  ones,  I  can  frolic  all  the  day; 
I  can  laugh,  I  can  jump,  I  can  run  about  and  play. 
But  when  I  'm  in  the  tens,  I  must  get  up  with  the  lark, 
And  sew,  and  read,  and  practise,  from  early  morn  till  dark. 

When  I  'm  in  the  twenties,  I  '11  be  like  Sister  Jo; 
1 11  wear  the  sweetest  dresses  (and,  maybe,  have  a  beau !), 
I  711  go  to  balls  and  parties,  and  wear  my  hair  up  high? 
And  not  a  girl  in  all  the  town  shall  be  as  gay  as  I. 

When  I  'm  in  the  thirties,  I  '11  be  just  like  Mama; 
And,  maybe,  I  '11  be  married  to  a  splendid  big  papa. 
I  '11  order  things,  and  go  to  teas,  and  grow  a  little  fat, 
(But,  Mother  is  so  sweet  and  nice,  1 11  not  object  to  that). 

Oh,  what  comes  after  thirty  ?  The  forties  !  Mercy,  my ! 
When  I  grow  as  old  as  forty,  I  think  I  '11  have  to  die. 
But  like  enough  the  world  won't  last  until  we  see  that 

day;  — 
It  's  so  very,  very,  very,  very,  VERY  far  away ! 


THE   BEE-CHARMER 

A  FRISKY  little  faun  of  old 

Once  came  to  charm  the  bees  — 
A  frisky  little  faun  and  bold, 

With  very  funny  knees: 
You  '11  read  in  old  mythology 

Of  just  such  folk  as  these, 
Who  haunted  dusky  woodlands 

And  sported  'neath  the  trees. 

Well,  there  he  sat  and  waited 
And  played  upon  his  pipe, 

Till  all  the  air  grew  fated 
And  the  hour  was  warm  and  ripe,- 


THE  BEE-CHARMER 

When,  through  the  woodland  glooming 

Out  to  the  meadow  clear, 
A  few  great  bees  came  booming, 

And  hovered  grandly  near. 

Then  others,  all  a-listening, 

Came,  one  by  one,  intent, 
Their  gauzy  wings  a-glistening, 

Their  velvet  bodies  bent. 
Filled  was  the  meadow  sunny 

With  music-laden  bees, 
Forgetful  of  their  honey 

Stored  in  the  gnarled  old  trees; 
Heedless  of  sweets  that  waited 

In  myriad  blossoms  bright, 
They  crowded,  dumb  and  sated 

And  heavy  with  delight; 
When,  presto  !  —  with  quick  laughter 

Gone  was  the  piping  faun! 
And  never  came  he  after, 

By  noon  or  night  or  dawn. 

Never  the  bees  recovered; 

The  spell  was  on  them  still, — 
Where'er  they  flew  or  hovered 

They  knew  not  their  own  will; 
The  wondrous  music  filled  them, 

As  dazed  they  sought  the  bloom; 
The  cadences  that  thrilled  them 

Had  dealt  them  mystic  doom. 


10  THE  BEE-CHARMER 

And  people  called  them  lazy  — 

Knowing  their  wondrous  skill  — 
While  others  thought  them  crazy, 

And  strove  to  do  them  ill; 
Their  velvet  coats  a-fuzzing 

They  darted,  bounded,  flew, 
And  filled  the  air  with  buzzing 

And  riotous  ado. 

Now,  when  in  summer  season 

We  hear  their  noise  and  stir, 
Full  well  we  know  the  reason 

Of  buzz  and  boom  and  whir  — 
As,  browsing  on  the  clover 

Or  darting  at  the  flower, 
They  hum  it  o'er  and  over, 

That  charm  of  elfin  power. 
Dire,  with  a  purpose  musical 

Jarring  the  sultry  noon, 
They  make  their  sounds  confusical, 

And  try  to  catch  the  tune. 
It  baffl.es  them,  it  rouses  them, 
It  wearies  them  and  drowses  them, 
It  puzzles  them  and  saddens  them. 
It  worries  them  and  maddens  them ; 
Ah,  wicked  faun,  with  funny  knees, 
To  bring  such  trouble  on  the  bees! 


CHRISTMAS 

THEY  put  me  in  the  great  spare  bed  and  there  they 

bade  me  sleep ; 
I  must  not   stir;   I  must   not  wake;   I  must   not   even 

peep ! 
Eight  opposite  that  lonely  bed  my  Christmas  stocking 

hung ; 
And  in  the  big  bay  window  a  funny  shadow  swung. 

I  counted  softly,  to  myself,  to  ten,  and  ten  times  ten, 
And  went  through   all   the   alphabet,  and  then  began 

again ; 
I    repeated   that   Fifth    Reader   piece  —  a   poem    called 

"  Repose,"— 

And  tried  a  dozen  other  ways  to  fall  into  a  doze; 

11 


12  CHRISTMAS 

When  suddenly  the  room  grew  light.     I  heard  a  soft, 

strong  bound  — 
7T  was  Santa   Glaus,  I  felt  quite   sure,  but  dared  not 

look   around. 
?T  was  nice  to  know  that  he  was  there,  and  things  were 

going  rightly, 
And  so  I  took  a  little  nap,  and  tried  to  smile  politely. 

^Ho!  Merry  Christmas!"  cried  a  voice;   I  felt  the 

bed  a-rocking; 
'T  was  daylight  —  Brother  Rob  was  up!    and   oh, 

that  splendid  stocking! 


THE   CALL  OF   THE   SEA 

IT  is  all  very  well  to  be  good,  I  agree, — 

To  be  gentle,  and  patient,  and  that  sort  of  thing; 

But  there  ?s  something  that  suits  my  taste  to  a  T 
In  the  thought  of  a  reg'lar  Pirate  King. 


THE   CALL   OF    THE    SKA. 


A   PLUMP  LITTLE   GIRL  AND   A  THIN 
LITTLE   BIRD 

A  PLUMP  little  girl  and  a  thin  little  bird 

Were  out  in  the  meadow  together. 
"How  cold  that  poor  little  bird  must  be 
Without  any  clothes  like  mine/'  said  she, 
"Although  it  is  sunshiny  weather ! " 

"A  nice  little  girl  is  that,"  piped  he, 
"But  oh,  how  cold  she  must  be!     For,  see, 

She  has  ?nt  a  single  feather ! " 
So  each  shivered  to  think  of  the  other  poor  thing, 

Although  it  was  sunshiny  weather. 


THE   POET   WHO    COULD   N'T   WRITE    POETRY 

MR.  TENNYSON  TINKLETON  T  UPPER  VON  BURNS 

Was  no  poet,  as  every  one  knew; 
But  the  fact  that  he  had  his  poetical  turns 

Was  well  understood  by  a  few. 

"  I  long,  I  aspire,  and  I  suffer  and  sigh 
When  the  fever  is  on/7  he  confessed; 

"  Yet  never  a  line  have  I  writ,—  and  for  why  ? 
My  fancies  can  not  be  expressed ! 

"Ah,  what  avail  language,  ink,  paper,  and  quill, 
When  the  soul  of  a  gifted  one  yearns? 

Could  I  write  what  I  feel,  all  creation  would  thrill," 
Said  Tennyson  Tupper  von  Burns. 

15 


THE  WELL-READ   HUNTER 


A    LION    MET   A    LITTLE    BOY 

WELL    VERSED    IN    HUNTERS*  LORE. 

THEN   SPAKE    HE  TO  THAT  WELL-READ  BOY 
"WOULDST   LIKE    TO    HEAR    ME   ROAR?" 


it; 


THE  WELL-READ  HUNTEK 


17 


"YES,  THANK  YOU,      SAID   THE   LITTLE   BOY, 
WHO   SCORNED   ALL   PALTRY   FRIGHT. 

THE   LION   ROARED  J    THEN   ASKED   THE   BOY  I 
"  WOULDST  LIKE   TO   SEE   ME   BITE?" 


18 


THE  WELL-READ  HUNTEE 


"OH   YES,"   REPLIED   THAT  PLUCKY   BOY, 
WHO   COOLLY   EYED   HIS  GUN  ; 

"BUT   FIRST   I'D   LIKE   TO   TRY   THIS  TOY;- 
WOULDST   LIKE   TO   SEE   SOME   FUN?" 


THE  WELL-READ   HUNTER 


19 


THEN  FLED  THAT  LION  FROM  THE  BOY, 
AS  BEAST  NE'ER  RAN  BEFORE  ; — 

AND  TO  THIS  DAY  THAT  LITTLE  BOY 
ENJOYS  HIS  HUNTERS'  LORE. 


POOR  MARIONETTE 

POOR  Marionette!    She  worked  so  hard, 
And  did  her  part  with  such  precision! 
But  one  cold  day,  when  off  her  guard, 
She  tumbled  on  the  cruel  floor 
And  broke  herself  for  evermore. 
Then  worthless  quite  — 
Poor  wooden  mite!  — 
She  met  with  scorn  and  cold  derision. 

" Throw  her  away!77  the  showman  cried; 

"  Throw  her  away.    "We  '11  have  a  new  one.'7 
And  so,  despised  and  cast  aside, 
She  lay  all  winter  in  the  snow, 
Unmourned,  forgotten  long  ago 
By  human  folk; 
And  never  woke, — 
So  can  a  cruel  fate  undo  one ! 

Poor  Marionette!    In  course  of  time 

Sweet  May  came,  bringing  balmy  weather. 
Then  followed  summer  in  her  prime; 
And  softly,  on  fair  moonlight  nights, 
Came  mourning  elves  and  gentle  sprites, 
Who,  weeping  much, 
With  tender  touch 
Soon  hid  her  in  the  warm,  sweet  heather 

20 


CONSIDER,   NOW, 
A  PAINTER-MAN 

ONSIDER,  now,  a  painter- 
man  who  thought  him- 
self divine, — 

Correggio  Delmonico  del 
Michael  Angeline ; 

"  Fine  portrait-painting  done 
within,"  was  printed  on 
his  sign, 

And  all  around  his  studio 
his  works  hung  on  the 
line. 

When  he  painted  little  boys,  he  said :    "  How  plainly  I 

can  see, 

I  am  such  a  mighty  lion  that  they  7re  afraid  of  me ! " 
And  when  he  painted  little  girls, — "  Dear  little  things ! " 

said  he, 
"They  ?re  shy  because  I  awe  them  with  my  grace  and 

dignity." 


CONSIDER,  NOW,  A  PAIN  TEE-MAN  23 

"  'T  is  wonderful/'  he  oft  remarked,  "  the  colors  that  I 

know  5 
The  sky  is  blue,  the  grass  is  green,  and  red  the  roses 

blow; 

And  yet  the  people  look  amazed  whene'er  I  paint  them  so, 
And  seem  to  think  that  higher  yet  an  artist  ought  to  go ! " 

Well,  strange  to  say,  it  came  to  pass  that  he  took  down 

the  sign; 

For  never  came   a   customer  to   buy  his   pictures   fine. 
And  that   is   all   I   know  of   one  who   thought  himself 

divine, — 
Correggio  Delmonico  del  Michael  Angeline. 


NORTHERLY 

WHEN  the  wind  is  east,  they  say, 
We  may  have  a  rainy  day  j 
When  it  travels  from  the  west 
Waving  fields  have  little  rest. 
Warm  and  soft  it  is,  we  know, 
When  the  southern  breezes  blow; 
But  this  north  wind  puzzles  me,— 
Who  knows  what  the  weather  11  be! 


25 


A  BALL  'S  A  BALL 

A  BALL  7s  a  ball,  and  nothing  more, 
When  it  lies  upon  the  floor. 
See  how  grave  and  still  its  air! 
Not  a  bit  of  frolic  there. 

What  is  this?   Can  Pussy's  touch 
Change  the  quiet  thing  so  much? 
See  it  start,  and  turn,  and  hop ! 
Pussy  cannot  make  it  stop! 

See  them  scurry!   See  them  leap! 
See  the  two  fall  in  a  heap! 
Now  they  roll !   and  now  they  run  I 
Bless  me !   balls  are  full  of  fun ! 


THE  NAUGHTY  LITTLE  EGYPTIAN 

LONG,  long  ago,  in  Egypt  land, 

Where  the  lazy  lotus  grew, 
And  the  pyramids,  though  vast  and  grand, 

Were  rather  fresh  and  new, 
There  dwelt  an  honored  family, 

Called  Scarabeus  Phlat, 
Whose  duty  >t  was  all  faithfully 

To  tend  The  Sacred  Cat. 

They  brought  the  water  of  the  Nile 

To  bathe  its  honored  feet; 
They  gave  it  oil  and  camomile 

Whene'er  it  deigned  to  eat. 
With  gold  and  precious  emeralds 

Its  temple  sparkled  o'er. 
And  golden  mats  lay  thick  upon 

The  consecrated  floor. 

And  Scarabeus  Phlat  himself  — 

A  man  of  cheerful  mood  — 
Held  not  his  trust  from  love  of  pelf, 

For  he  was  very  good. 

27 


EVER    ON     HIS    BROXZED    FACE     HE     WORE    A    LOOK     OF     GLEE. 


THE  NAUGHTY  LITTLE  EGYPTIAN  29 

He  thought  the  Cat  a  catamount 

In  strength  and  majesty; 
And  ever  on  his  bronzed  face 

He  wore  a  look  of  glee. 

And  Mrs.  Scarabeus  Phlat 

Was  smiling,  bright,  and  good  ; 
For  she,  too,  loved  The  Sacred  Cat, 

As  it  was  meet  she  should. 
Never  a  grumpy  syllable 

Came  from  this  joyous  pair ; 
And  all  the  neighbors  envied  them 

Their  very  jolly  air. 

When  Scarabeus  went  to  find 

The  Sacred  Cat  its  store, 
The  pretty  wife  he  left  behind 

Stood  smiling  at  the  door. 
He  knew  that  quite  as  smilingly 

She  7d  welcome  his  return, 
And  brightly  on  the  altar  stone 

The  tended  flame  would  burn. 

The  Sacred  Cat  was  different  quite; 

No  jollity  he  knew; 
But,  spoiled  and  petted  day  and  night, 

Only  the  crosser  grew. 
Yet  still  they  served  him  faithfully, 

And  thought  his  snarling  sweet ; 
And  still  they  fed  him  lusciously, 

And  bathed  his  .sacred  feet. 


30  THE  NAUGHTY  LITTLE  EGYPTIAN 

So  far,  so  good.     But  hear  the  rest: 

This  couple  had  a  child, 
A  little  boy,  not  of  the  best, — 

Rameses,  he  was  styled. 
This  little  boy  was  beautiful, 

But  soon  he  grew  to  be 
So  like  The  Cat  in  manners, —  oh! 

?T  was  wonderful  to  see! 

He  might  have  copied  Papa  Phlat, 

Or  Mama  Phlat,  as  well  5 
And  why  he  did  n't  think  of  that 

No  mortal  soul  could  tell. 
It  was  n't  want  of  discipline, 

Nor  lack  of  good  advice, 
But  just  because  he  did  n't  care 

To  be  the  least  bit  nice. 

Besides,  he  noticed  day  by  day 

How  ill  The  Cat  behaved, 
And  how  (whatever  they  might  say) 

His  parents  were  enslaved ; 
And  how  they  worshiped  silently 

The  naughty  Sacred  Cat. 
Said  he,  "They  '11  do  the  same  by  me, 

If  I  but  act  like  that.77 

At  first  the  parents  said:    "How  blest 
Are  we,  to  find  The  Cat 


THE  NAUGHTY  LITTLE  EGYPTIAN  31 

Glow,  humanized,  within  the  breast 

Of  a  Scarabeus  Phlat!" 
But  soon  the  neighbors,  pitying, 

Whispered :    "  'T  is  very  sad ! 
There  's  no  mistake, —  that  little  one 

Of  Phlat's  is  very  bad ! " 

He  snarled,  he  squalled  from  night  till  morn, 

And  scratched  his  mother's  eyes, 
The  Sacred  Cat,  himself,  looked  on 

In  envious  surprise. 
And  here  the  record  suddenly 

Breaks  off.     No  more  we  know, 
Excepting  this:   That  happy  pair 

Soon  wore  a  look  of  woe. 

Yes,  then,  and  ever  afterward, 

A  look  of  pain  they  wore. 
No  more  the  wife  stood  smilingly 

A-waitiiig  at  the  door. 
No  more  did  Scarabeus  Phlat 

Display  a  jolly  face ; 
But  on  his  brow  such  sadness  sat 

It  gloomied  all  the  place. 

So,  children,  take  the  lesson  in, 

And  due  attention  give: 
No  matter  when,  or  where,  or  how, 

Mothers  and  fathers  live, 


32  THE  NAUGHTY  LITTLE  EGYPTIAN 

No  matter  be  they  Brown  or  Jones, 

Or  Scarabeus  Phlat, 
It  grieves  their  hearts  to  see  their  child 

Act  like  a  naughty  cat. 
And  Sacred  Cats  are  well  enough 

To  those  who  hold  them  so ; 
But  —  oh,  take  warning  of  the  boy 

In  Egypt  long  ago! 


SEEING  IS  BELIEVING 

'ILLING  Kitty  McHost  was 

deaf  as  a  post, 
And  Wellington  Stowe  could 

n't  speak ; 

"  So,  you  see,  ?t  were  as 
well/'  said  Miss  Kitty 
McHost, 

"  For  a  man  to  come  courtin'  in  Greek ! 
If  it  's  me  you  are  after,  dear  Wellington  Stowe, 
Just  bring  in  a  bit  of  a  trumpet  and  blow." 

So  he  blew  and  he  blew,  his  dear  lady  to  win  ; 
But  she  cried  in  despair :  "  Will  he  never  begin  ?  " 
And  then  in  the  trumpet  he  silently  sighed, 
Whilst  fondly  and  sweetly  his  lady  he  eyed;  — 
"Would  you  deafen  a  body!"  she  cried,  "Mr.  Stowe; 
If  you  blow  loud  as  that,  all  the  neighbors  '11  know ! " 

And  so  it  was  settled.    And  long  may  they  thrive, — 
The  quietest,  happiest  couple  alive! 

3  33 


TELL  ME,  DAISY 

TELL  me,  Daisy,  ere  I  go, 

Whether  my  love  is  true  or  no 

One  leaf  off:  He  loves  me.     What? 

One  more  leaf,  and  he  loves  me  not. 

Three  leaves:  Will  he?    Four  leaves:  So, 

He  never  will  love  me  ?  —  oh  no,  no  ! 

I  don't  care  what  a  daisy  says; 

I  'm  sure  to  get  married  one  of  these  days! 

34 


AN  OCEAN  NOTION 

WERE  I  old  Neptune's  son,  you  ?d  see 
How  soon  the  waves  would  bow  to  me; 
And  how  the  fish  would  gather  round,  . 
And  wag  their  tails  with  joy  profound. 
1 7d  bid  the  sea-gull  tidings  bring 
Of  sunny  lands  where  linnets  sing; 
I  'd  roam  the  icebergs  wild,  and  find 
A  summer  suited  to  my  mind; 
Or  in  the  gulf-stream  warm  I  'd  play 
And  on  my  Nautilus  sail  away; 
I  'd  turn  the  billows  inside  out ; 
Play  leap-frog  with  the  waterspout; 
Swing  on  the  cable,  out  of  sight, 
Or  leap  with  dolphins  to  the  light. 
All  this  I  'd  do  and  more  beside, 
Were  I  old  Neptune's  joy  and  pride. 
His  wreathed  horn  I  ?d  lightly  blow, 
And  swing  his  trident  to  and  fro;  . 

35 


36 


AN  OCEAN  NOTION 


And  when  I  tired  of  ocean's  roar, 
1 7d  take  a  little  turn  on  shore. 
If  Neptune  feared  to  trust  on  land 


"AND  ON  MY  NAUTILUS  SAIL  AWAY." 

His  fine  aquatic  four-in-hand? — 

Why,  what  of  that?  I  ?d  laugh  and  go 

Upon  a  charger  sure  and  slow  — 


AN  OCEAN  NOTION 


My  turtle-steed  so  fine  and  grand 
Ready  for  trip  on  sea  or  land. 
Ah,  but  1 7d  have  right  lordly  fun, 
If  I  were  only  Neptune's  son ! 


37 


ARAMANTHA  MEHITABEL   BROWN 

OH,  Miss  Aramantha  Mehitabel  Brown 
Was  known  as  the  prettiest  girl  in  the  town, 
In  the  days  of  King  George,  number  Three. 
Her  hat  was  a  wonder 
Of  feathers  and  bows; 
The  pretty  face  under 
Was  sweet  as  a  rose  j 
And  her  sleeves  were  so  full  they  could  tickle  her 

nose! 

Her  dimity  gown  was  a  marvel  to  see; 
So  short  in  the  waist! 
And  not  a  bit  laced  — 

"  Oh,  mercy !  I  never  would  do  it ! "  said  she. 
No  cumbering  train  hid  her  dear  little  feet, 
Yet  the  skirt  that  revealed  them  was  ample  and 

neat, — 

Indeed  all  the  modistes  declared  it  was  "  sweet " ; 
And  the  bag  that  she  swung  from  her  plump  little 

arm 
Held  a  kerchief,  a  purse,  and  a  luck-penny  charm. 


ABAMANTHA  MEHITABEL  BROWN 


39 


Ah,  the  maiden  was  fair, 
And  dainty  and  rare  ! 
And  the  neighbors  would  sigh, 
As  she  tripped  lightly  by: 
"  Sure,  the  pride  of  our  town 
And  its  fittest  renown 
Is  sweet  Aramantha  Mehitabel  Brown ! " 


"I    CANNOT     THINK    WHAT    KEEPS    HIM     SO.' 


COMING  HOME 

"  COME,  Kitty,  come  ! "  I  said  : 
But  still  she  waited  —  waited, 
Nodding  oft  her  pretty  head 

With,  "  I  'm  coming  soon. 
Father  7s  rowing  home,  I  know, 
I  cannot  think  what  keeps  him  so, 
Unless  he  7s  just  belated; 

I  ?m  coming  soon." 

"  Come,  Kate  ! n  her  mother  called, 
"  The  supper  's  almost  ready." 
But  Kitty,  in  her  place  installed, 

Said,  "I  'm  coming  soon. 
Do  let  me  wait.     He  's  sure  to  come ; 
By  this  time  Father  ?s  always  home  — 
He  rows  so  fast  and  steady ; 

I  7in  coming  soon." 

41 


42  COMING  HOME 

"  Come,  Kit ! "  her  brothers  cried  ; 
But  Kitty  by  the  water 
Still  eagerly  the  distance  eyed, 
With  "I  'm  coining  soon. 
Why,  what  would  evening  be,"  said  she, 
"Without  dear  father  home  to  tea? 
Without  his  '  Ho,  my  daughter J  ? 
I  'm  coming  soon." 

"  Come,  dear ! "  plead  one  and  all, 
But  Kitty  ?s  softly  humming,- 
She  hears  a  cheery  distant  call, — 

"And  he  ?s  coming  soon" 
Is  in  her  heart ;  for,  far  from  shore, 
Gliding  the  happy  waters  o'er, 
She  sees  the  boat,  and  cries,  "  He  7s  coming ! 

We  're  coming  soon  ! " 


SCHOOL-BOY  TROUBLES 


HE  witches   hide   in   my   books, 

I  know, 

Or  else  it  7s  fairy  elves  j 
For  when  I  study,  they  plague 

me  so 

I  feel  like  one  of  themselves. 
Often  they  whisper  :  "  Come  and 


The  sun  is  shining  bright ! " 
And  when  I  fling  the  book  away 

They  flutter  with  delight. 
They  dance  among  the  stupid  words, 

And  twist  the  "rules77  awry; 
And  fly  across  the  page  like  birds, 

Though  I  can't  see  them  fly. 
They  twitch  my  feet,  they  blur  my  eyes, 

They  make  me  drowsy,  too ; 
In  fact,  the  more  a  fellow  tries 

To  study,  the  worse  they  do. 
They  can't  be  heard,  they  can't  be  seen  — 

I  know  not  how  they  look  — 
And  yet  they  always  lurk  between 

The  leaves  of  a  lesson-book. 
Whatever  they  are  I  cannot  tell, 

But  this  is  plain  as  day : 
I  '11  never  be  able  to  study  well, 

Till  the  book-elves  go  away. 


43 


FANS 

MY  sister  Kitty  has  lovely  fans, — 
Oh,  ten  times  finer  than  sister  Nan's! 
Kitty's  are  beautiful  —  satin  and  pearl 
(Kitty  was  always  a  dressy  girl ! ) 
Ebony,  tortoise-shell,  lace,  and  gold; 
Shimmering,  shining  in  every  fold; 
Bedecked  and  trimmed  with  fur  and  feather, — 
And  she  needs  them  even  in  winter  weather ! 

Nan's  (ah,  how  many  she  has ! )  are  plain, 
Clean,  and  cool  as  the  summer  rain; 
Paper  and  palm-leaf  fans  are  they, 
Three  for  a  dime,  I  have  heard  her  say; 


FANS  45 

Strong  and  firm,  yet  light  to  bear, 

And  laden  with  cool,  refreshing  air, 

As  bound  on  errands  of  help  and  pity, 

She  carries  them  through  the  scorching  city. 

To-day  she  is  sitting  by  tiny  beds 
Cooling  poor  little,  suffering  heads; 
Fanning  lightly  —  softly  —  slow 
Till  the  little  ones  far  into  dreamland  go. 

I  often  think  of  these  different  fans, 
Kitty's,  so  lovely  —  and  sister  Nan's. 


y 

PI  *•*  PI  ^ 

_    x    i>    x  >    x'  ">    x  ">    x  *>    x  "> 

"WWWWWWWWWWWW 


X     >     X 

^  W  W 


4G 


A  NEW  YEAR 

INGr,  dong!  ding,  dong! 
This  old  year  will  soon  be  gone, 
But  a  new  one  's  coming  on, — 
Ding,  dong!  ding,  dong! 

Tell  us,  Year,  before  you  go, — 

Ding,  dong!  ding,  dong! 
Why  at  last  you  hurry  so, 
Though  at  first  so  very  slow? 

Ding,  dong! 

Can't  you  wait  until  we  see 
What  the  new  year  means  to  be  ? 
Ding,  dong!  ding,  dong! 

I  wish  years  would  never  change; 
No  one  wants  a  year  that  's  strange. 

Ding,  dong  !  ding,  dong ! 
Big  folk  say  't  would  never  do, 
None  would  live  the  past  anew; 
But  I  'd  like  it, —  would  n't  you  f 

Ding,  dong!  ding,  dong! 

Just  the  same1?    No,  I  must  be 
Better  with  each  year,  you  see. 
Old  Year,  don't  you  pity  me? 
Ding,  dong!  ding,  dong! 
Ding ! 

47 


THE  ELF  AND   THE   SPIDER 

PERCHED  on  a  stool  of  the  fairy  style, 
An  elf-boy  worked  with  a  mischievous  smile. 
"  That  careless  spider ! "  said  he,  "  to  leave 
His  web  unfinished !   But  I  can  sew : 
I  '11  spin,  or  sew,  or  darn,  or  weave  — 
Whatever  they  call  it  —  so  none  will  know 
That  his  spidership  didn't  complete  it  himself, 
Or  I  ?m  a  very  mistaken  young  elf.7; 

Well,  the  wee  sprite  sewed,  or  wove,  or  spun, 
Plying  his  brier  and  gossamer  thread  j 
And,  quick  as  a  ripple,  the  web,  all  done, 
Was  softly  swaying  against  his  head 
As  he  laughed  and  nodded  in  joyful  pride. 

Ho !   ho  !   it  's  done ! 

Ha!   ha!   what  fun! 

And  then  he  felt  himself  slowly  slide  — 
Slide  and  tumble  —  stool  and  all  — 
In  the  prettiest  sort  of  a  fairy  fall ! 

Up  he  jumped,  as  light  as  air ; 
But  oh,  what  a  sight, 
What  a  sorry  plight  — 

48 


PLYING    HIS    BRIER    AND    GOSSAMER    THREAD. 


50  THE  ELF  AND  THE  SPIDER 

The  web  was  caught  in  his  sunny  hair! 
When,  presto !  on  sudden  invisible  track, 
That  horrible  spider  came  lumbering  back : 

"  WHO  'S  BEEN  AT  MY  WEB  ?  WHAT  HO  !    COME  ON ! 

And  he  knotted  for  fight, 

The  horrid  fright! 

But  the  elf  was  gone  — 

Poor,  frightened  fay ! 

Nothing  was  seen  but  a  tattered  sheen, 

Trailing  and  shining  upon  the  green. 

But  all  that  night,  with  dainty  care, 
An  elf  sat  tugging  away  at  his  hair. 
And  ?t  is  whispered  in  Elf-land  to  this  day 
That  any  spider  under  the  sun 
May  go  and  leave  his  web  undone, 
With  its  filmy  thread-end  swinging  free 
Or  tied  to  the  tip  of  a  distant  tree, 
With  never  a  fear  that  elfin-men 
Will  meddle  with  spider-work  again. 


DANCING 

MASTER  FITZ-EUSTACE  DE  PERCIVAL  JONES 

"Went  dancing  with  Polly  McLever; 
And  he  asked  her  that  night,  in  the  sweetest  of  tones, 

To  dance  with  him  only, —  forever. 

"  Indeed  I  will,  Eustace  de  Percival  Jones," 

Said  dear  little  Polly  McLever. 
So  he  whispered  her  softly:   "Delay  is  for  drones  — 

Let  ?s  take  the  step  now,  Love,  if  ever." 

To-day  they  are  gray,  and  their  weary  old  bones 
Feel  keenly  each  turn  of  the  weather; 

But  dancing  at  heart  still  are  Polly  and  Jones, 
As  they  tread  to-day's  measure  together. 

51 


A  DEAR  LITTLE   SCHEMER 

THERE  was  a  little  daughter  once,  whose  stockings 

were  so  small 
That  when  thfe  Christmas  Eve  came  round  they 

would  n't  do  at  all. 
At  least  she  said  they  would  n't  do,  and  so  she  tried 

another's, 
And  folding  her  wee  stocking  up,  she  slyly  took  her 

mother's. 

"  1 11  pin  this  big  one  here/'  she  said, —  then  sat  before 

the  fire, 
Watching  the  supple,  dancing  flames,  and  shadows 

darting  by  her, 
Till  silently  she  drifted  off  to  that  queer  land,  you 

know, 
Of  "  Nowhere  in  particular,"  where  sleepy  children  go. 

She  never  knew  the  tumult  rare  that  came  upon  the 

roof! 

She  never  heard  the  patter  of  a  single  reindeer  hoof  j 
She  never  knew  how  Some  One  came  and  looked  his 

shrewd  surprise 
At  the  wee  foot  and  the  stocking  —  so  different  in 

size ! 

52 


'THE  WEE  FOOT  AND  THE  STOCKING  —  so  DIFFERENT  IN   SIZE, 


54  A  DEAR  LITTLE  SCHEMER 

She  only  knew,  when  morning  dawned,  that  she  was 

safe  in  bed. 
"  It  's  Christmas !  Ho ! "  and  merrily  she  raised  her 

pretty  head; 
Then,  wild  with  glee,  she  saw  what  "dear  Old  Santa 

Glaus"  had  done, 
And  ran  to  tell  the  joyftd  news  to  each  and  every 

one: 

"  Mama !  Papa !  Please  come  and  look !  a  lovely  doll, 

and  all ! " 
And  "  See  how  full  the  stocking  is !  Mine  would  have 

been  too  small. 
I  borrowed  this  for  Santa  Glaus.     It  is  n't  fair,  you 

know, 
To  make  him  wait  forever  for  a  little  girl  to  grow." 


THE   ROAD   TO   LEARNING 

WISH  I  knew  my  letters  well, 

So  I  might  learn  to  read  and  spell 
1 7d  find  them  on  my  pretty  card, 
If  they  were  not  so  very  hard. 

Now  S  is  crooked  —  don't  you  see? 
And  Gr  is  making  mouths  at  me, 
And  O  is  something  like  a  ball, — 
It  has  n't  any  end  at  all. 

And  all  the  rest  are  —  my!  so  queer! 
They  look  like  crooked  sticks  —  oh  dear! 
Nurse  counted  six,  and  twenty  more  ; 
What  do  they  have  so  many  for? 


53 


THERE  >S  A  SHIP   ON  THE   SEA 

THERE  ?s  a  ship  on  the  sea.     It  is  sailing  to-night, 

Sailing  to-night! 
And  father  7s  aboard,  and  the  moon  is  all  bright, 

Shindig  and  bright! 
Dear  moon;  he  ?11  be  sailing  for  many  a  night  — 

Sailing  from  mother  and  me. 
Oh,  follow  the  ship  with  your  silvery  light, 

As  father  sails  over  the  sea! 


56 


MAKING  IT   SKIP 

"I  ?LL  make  it  skip ! " 
Cried  Harry,  seizing  a  bit  of  stone. 
And,  in  a  trice,  from  our  Harry's  hand, 

With  scarce  a  dip, 
Over  the  water  it  danced  alone, 
While  we  were  watching  it  from  the  land 
Skip !   skip !   skip ! 

"  I  '11  make  it  skip  ! " 
Now,  somehow,  that  is  onr  Harry's  way : 
He  takes  little  troubles  that  vex  one  so, 

Not  worth  a  flip, 

And  makes  them  seem  to  frolic  and  play 
Just  by  his  way  of  making  them  go 
Skip !   skip !   skip  ! 


THE    FANCY-DRESS    BALL 

THEY  dressed  me,  one  day,  for  a  juvenile  ball, 
In  a  long-tailed  coat  and  a  chapeau  tall, 
And  ruffles  and  bows  and  an  eye-glass,  too, 
And  a  wig  finished  off  with  an  odd  little  queue 
But  what  I  was  meant  for  I  hardly  knew. 

"  You  belong  to  Directory  days,  my  dear," 
They  said,  which  struck  me  at  least  as  queer, 


THE  FANCY-DRESS  BALL  59 

For  I  knew  that  the  mass  of  the  people  in  town, 
From  De  Lancy  and  Astor  to  Jenkins  and  Brown, 
Were  in  the  Directory  all  set  down. 

My  sisters  tried  hard  my  attention  to  fix, — 
I  heard,  "  No,  in  France,"  and  "  In  ninety-six," 
And  "  Turbulent  days,"  and  "  Yes,  there  were  five  " ; 
And  each  to  out-rattle  the  other  would  strive  — 
They  buzzed  in  my  ear  till  I  felt  like  a  hive. 

"  Oh,  is  n't  he  perfect  ? "  they  cried  in  delight 
(And,  really,  I  was  n't  a  very  bad  sight ), 
But  every  youngster,  I  '11  venture  to  say, 
At  the  ball,  whether  peasant  or  clown  or  fay, 
Had  been  praised  at  home  in  the  selfsame  way. 

Well,  all  but  me  were  as  plain  as  your  hat  j 
At  once  you  could  say,  they  are  this  or  they  're  that  j 
I  even  knew  good  little  George  with  his  hatchet, 
(Without,  I  must  own,  any  sapling  to  match  it) ; 
And  you  felt,  at  a  glance,  he  expected  to  "  catch  it." 

I  recognized  Tell  by  his  high  Swiss  hat, 
His  boy  with  the  apple  a-top,  and  all  that ; 
But  all  of  the  characters  stared  at  me, 
As  if  to  say,  "What  on  earth  can  he  be?" 
And  what  was  the  use  of  my  saying,  you  see, 
"  Why,  I  ?     I  am  from  the  Directory !  " 

MORAL. 

When  you  're  booked  for  a  fancy-dress  party,  take  care 
To  learn  all  about  the  queer  costume  you  wear ! 


BILLY  BUTTERCUP 

BONNY  Billy  Buttercup !    Pretty  little  fay . 

Riding  on  the  blossoms  in  the  breeze; 
Deep  in  the  clover-bloom  hiding  him  away, 

Startled  at  the  murmur  of  the  trees. 

Children!  have  you  seen  him!   shy  is  he  and  gay, 

Sunny  as  the  butterflies  and  bees, 
Bonny  Billy  Buttercup!    Pretty  little  fay! 

Riding  on  the  blossoms  in  the  breeze. 


THE   SWEET,   RED   ROSE 

"  GOOD  MORROW,  little  rose-bush  ! 

Now  prithee  tell  me  true : 
To  be  as  sweet  as  a  sweet,  red  rose 

What  must  a  body  do?" 

"  To  be  as  sweet  as  a  sweet,  red  rose 

A  little  girl  like  you 
Just  grows  and  grows  and  grows  and  grows 

And  that  's  what  she  must  do." 


AN  APRIL  GIRL 

THE  girl  that  is  born  on  an  April  day 
Has  a  right  to  be  merry,  lightsome,  gay ; 
And  that  is  the  reason  I  dance  and  play 
And  frisk  like  a  mote  in  a  sunny  ray, — 

Would  n't  you 

Do  it,  too, 
If  you  had  been  born  on  an  April  day? 

The  girl  that  is  born  on  an  April  day 
Has  also  a  right  to  cry,  they  say  5 
And  so  I  sometimes  do  give  way 
When  things  get  crooked  or  all  astray, — 

Would  n't  you 

Do  it,  too, 
If  you  had  been  born  on  an  April  day? 

The  girls  of  March  love  noise  and  fray; 
And  sweet  as  blossoms  are  girls  of  May; 
But  I  belong  to  the  time  midway, — 
And  so  I  rejoice  in  a  sunny  spray 
Of  smiles  and  tears  and  hap-a-day, — 

Would  n't  you 

Do  it,  too, 
If  you  had  been  born  on  an  April  day? 


64  AN  APRIL  GIKL 

Heigh-ho !   and  hurrah !  for  an  April  day, 
Its  cloud,  its  sparkle,  its  skip  and  stay ! 
I  mean  to  be  happy  whenever  I  may, 
And  cry  when  I  must,-  for  that  ?s  my  way. 

Would  n't  you 

Do  it,  too, 
If  you  had  been  born  on  an  April  day! 


THE  ZEALLESS   XYLOGRAPHER 

(Dedicated  to  the  End  of  the  Dictionary.} 

YLOGEAPHEB  started  to  cross  the  sea 

By  means  of  a  Xanthic  Xebec; 
But,  alas!  he  sighed  for  the  Zuyder  Zee, 

And  feared  he  was  in  for  a  wreck. 
He  tried  to  smile,  but  all  in  vain. 
Because  of  a  Zygomatic  pain; 
And  as  for  singing,  his  cheeriest  tone 
Reminded  him  of  a  Xylophone  — 
Or  else,  when  the  pain  would  sharper  grow, 
His  notes  were  as  keen  as  a  Zuffolo. 
And  so,  it  is  likely,  he  did  not  find 
On  board,  Xenodochy  to  his  mind. 
The  fare  was  poor,  and  he  was  sure 
Xerophagy  he  could  not  endure; 
Zoophagous  surely  he  was,  I  aver, 
This  dainty  and  starving  Xylograph er. 
Xylophagous  truly  he  could  not  be  — 
No  sickly  vegetarian  he ! 

He  ?d  have  blubbered  like  any  old  Zeuglodon 
Had  Xerophthalmia  not  come  on. 
And  the  end  of  it  was  he  never  again 
In  a  Xanthic  Xebec  went  sailing  the  main. 


THE    LITTLE    GIRL  WHO   TRIED   TO   MIND 

PRUDENCE  —  good  sister  Prudence  ! — was  a  gentle  girl 

of  eight, 
And  Totty  was  but  four  years  old,  when  what  I  now 

relate 
Came  to  the  happy  little  pair,  one  bright  November 

day  — 
A  Sunday,  too  —  while   good  Papa  was  many  miles 

away. 

"  Good-by,  my  darlings !  don't  forget."     The  little  ones 

went  forth, 
Their  hearts  all  in  a  sunny  glow,  their  faces  to  the 

north  — 
Their  faces  to  the  chilling  north,  but  not  a  whit  cared 

they, 
Though   the  .pretty   church   before   them    stood  full 

half  a  mile  away. 

For  Mother,  with  her  smiling  face  and  cheery  voice, 

had  said : 

"  I  cannot  go  to  church  to-day,  but  you  may  go  instead. 
Baby  will  need  me  here  at  home  —  the  precious  little 

pet! 
But  babies   grow   in  time,  you  know.     She  '11  go  to 

meeting  yet." 


THE   LITTLE   GIRL   WHO   TRIED   TO   MIND 


67 


"  Take   care   of    sister,    Prue ! "    she    said,   while   tying 

Totty's  hood,— 
"  And,  Tottykins,  I  'in  sure  you  '11  be,  oh,  very  still  and 

good! 
Good-by,  my  darlings  !     Don't  forget.    Prudence,  you 

know  the  pew; 

And,  Tot,  be  Mama's  little  mouse,  and  sit  up  close  to 
Prue." 


68  THE  LITTLE  GIRL  WHO  TRIED  TO  MIND 

In  truth  it  was  a  pretty  sight,  to  see  the  rosy  pair 
Walk  down  the  aisle  and  take  their  seats,  with  sweetly 

solemn  air. 
And   Prudence   soon   was   listening,  her  manner   all 

intent, 
While   little   Tot   sat   prim   and   stiff,  and  wondered 

what  it  meant. 

The  quaint,  old-fashioned  meeting-house  had  pew- 
seats  low  and  bare, 

With  backs  that  reached  above  the  heads  when  they 
were  bowed  in  prayer. 

And  thus  it  was  when  suddenly  a  squeaking  sound 
was  heard, 

Faint  at  the  first,  then  almost  loud  —  even  the  deacon 
stirred ! 

All   heads   were   bowed;    again   it   came  —  that  tiny 

puzzling  sound, 
The  staidest  members  rolled  their  eyes  and  tried  to 

look  around; 
Till  Prudence,  anxious  little  maid!  felt,  with  a  pang 

of  fear, 
That,  whatsoe'er  its  cause  might  be,  the  noise  was 

strangely  near. 

Out  went  her  slyly  warning  hand,  to  reach  for  Totty 

there ; 
When,  oh,  the  squeaking  rose  above  the  closing  words 

of  prayer! 


THE  LITTLE  GIRL  WHO  TRIED  TO  MIND  69 

Aii  empty  mitten  on  the  seat  was  all  that  Prudence 

felt, 
"While   on   the   floor,  in  wondrous   style,  the   earnest 

Totty  knelt ! 

Poor  Prudence   leaned   and   signaled,  and   beckoned, 

all  in  vain  5  — 
Totty  was  very  much  engaged  and  would  not  heed, 

't  was  plain. 
When   suddenly   a   childish   voice   rang  through  the 

crowded  house :  — 
"  DON'T,  Prudy !  'cause  I  Ve  dot  to  be  my  Mama's  'ittle 

mouse ! " 

Many  a  worshiper  looked  shocked,  and  many  smiled 

outright, 
While   others  mourned  in  sympathy  with  "  Prudy's " 

sorry  plight; 
And   Totty,  wild  with   wrath  because   she    could  be 

mouse  no  more, 
Was  carried  soon,  a  sobbing  child,  out  through  the 

wide  church-door. 


Now   parents   ponder   while   ye    may   upon   this    sad 

mishap  j 
The   mother,   not  the   mouse,    you    see,    was    caught 

within  the  trap. 
And  when  your  little  listening  ones  you  send  beyond 

your  reach, 
Be  chary  of  your  metaphors  and  figurative  speech. 


THE  FAIR-MINDED   MEN  WHO  WALKED 
TO   DONAHAN 

Two  wise  men  walked  to  Donahan 
Upon  a  rainy  day, — 

Heigh-ho ! 

With  one  umbrelP  between  them. 
They  hit  npon  an  honest  plan 
For  both  to  have  fair  play, — 

Heigh-ho ! 
I  wish  you  could  have  seen  them. 

Said  one :    "  I  '11  hold  it  half  the  way, 
And  you  the  other  half, — 

Heigh-ho ! 

And  safely  we  '11  go  skipping." 
But  soon  his  neighbor  said:    "Nay,  nay, 
You  're  dry,  and  have  your  laugh, — 

Heigh-ho ! 
While  I  catch  all  the  dripping. 

"  Now  tliis  we  '11  try :   Your  head  poke  through, 
And  I  will  do  the  same, — 

Heigh-ho ! 
There  !   nothing  could  be  better ; 

70 


THE  FAIR-MINDED  MEN  WHO  WALKED  TO  DONAHAN  71 

Now  one  umbrelP  will  serve  for  two, 
And  neither  '11  be  to  blame, — 

Heigh-ho ! 
If  t'  other  gets  the  wetter." 

And  so  they  walked  to  Donahan, 
Nor  found  the  journey  long, — 

Heigh-ho ! 

Until  they  fell  a- wheezing; 
"  The  bargain  's  honest,  man  to  man," 

They  said  j   "  but  something  's  wrong," 

Heigh-ho ! 
As  on  they  went  —  a-sneezing. 


A  BROWN   STUDY 

MOTHER  said :  "  That 's  all,  dear.     Now  run  outdoors  and 
play.7' 

Father  said  the  same; 

And  so  I  came. 
But,  somehow,  they  forget  that  I  'm  growing  every  day. 

A  girl  can't  always  frolic.     Why,  lambs  are  sometimes 

still, 
Though  whenever  they  feel  like  it,  they  caper  with  a 

will. 
And  birds  may  stop  their  singing  while  their  hearts  are 

full  of  song. 
I  Ve  seen  them  look  so  solemn !     And  when  the  day  is 

long 
They  often  hide  among  the  boughs  and  think, —  I  'm 

sure  they  do; 
I  've  peered  between  the  twitching  leaves,  and  seen 

them  at  it,  too ! 

But  if  a  girl  stands  still  and  thinks,  the  people  always 

say: 
"  As  you  Ve  nothing  else  to  do,  dear,  why  don't  you  go 

and  play?" 

73 


74  A  BROWN  STUDY 

Well,  all  I  know  is  this:  It  's  nice 

To  jump  the  rope,  and  skip  and  swing,  or  skate  on 

winter  ice ; 
It  7s  nice  to  romp  with  other  girls  and  laugh  as  well 

as  they, — 

But  not  to-day. 

Dear  me!    How  sweet  and  bright  it  is,  this  lovely, 

lovely  Earth! 
And  not  a  thing  upon  it  dreams  how  much  it  's  really 

worth. 
Except  the  folks.     They  calculate  and  set  themselves 

quite  high; 

Oh,  my ! 

You  dear,  good  sky,  to  bend  so  soft  and  kind  above 

us  all! 
It 's  queer  to  think  this  great  wide  world  is  nothing 

but  a  ball 

Rolling,  they  say,  through  space ; — 
(How  does  it  keep  its  place? 
None  of  my  business,  I  suppose.) — I  wonder  if  the 

brook 
Is  full  to-day.     It  's  early  yet ;  —  I  guess  I  ?11  go  and 

look. 


"A  MISS   IS   AS   GOOD   AS  A  MILE" 


jrnk, 

S~\  •/* 

^>x^: 


'/  a/  goocf  a/  a  mile   I 
erx   prctfy   Kitty  If 9 
g    upon  fKc    well;   ;0ft 
T;  fo  f&lk  w7fk  me 
mofKer  wond^rj 
ct    Kom«    in  time  for  fca   . 


OUT   OF   THE   SKY 


"O  BIRD  of  the  sky, 
How  far*;  you  can  fly, — 

And  all  in  a  minute! 
You  Ve  been  to  the  sky, 
Away  up  so  high, 

And  know  all  that  's  in  it; 
You  7ve  pierced  with  your  flight 
Its  wonderful  light  — 

What  makes  it  so  blue? 

Now  tell  me,  oh  do, 

Little  singer!'7   '. 

The  bird  stopped  a  while 
To  rest  on  a  stile, 
With  mosses  upon  it; 

76 


OUT   OP   THE   SKY  77 

And  ere  very  long, 

He  poured  forth  a  song 
As  sweet  as  a  sonnet. 

But  never  a  word 

My  waiting  ear  heard, 
Why  the  sky  was  so  blue, 
Though  he  told  all  he  knew  — 
Stupid  singer! 

I  went  in  to  look 

For  the  facts  in  a  book, 

All  told  to  a  letter; 
Yet  somehow  it  seemed 
(Though  maybe  I  dreamed) 

The  bird  told  it  better. 
Oh,  never  a  word 
My  willing  ear  heard, 

Why  the  sky  was  so  blue, 

Yet  he  told  me  quite  true 
Knowing  singer ! 


MY  DOG 

I  LOVE  my  dog — a  beautiful  dog, 

Brave  and  alert  for  a  race; 
Ready  to  frolic  with  baby  or  man; 

Dignified,  too,  in  his  place. 

I  like  his  bark, —  a  resonant  bark, 

Musical,  honest  and  deep; 
And  his  swirling  tail  and  his  shaggy  coat 

And  his  sudden,  powerful  leap. 

Never  a  smug  little  pug  for  me, 
Nor  a  Spitz  with  treacherous  snap ! 

Never  a  trembling,  pattering  hound, 
Nor  a  poodle  to  live  on  my  lap ! 

No  soft-lined  basket  for  bed  has  Jack, 

Nor  bib,  nor  luxurious  plate; 
But  our  open  door,  that  he  guards  so  well, 

And  the  lawn  are  his  royal  state. 

No  dainty  leading-ribbon  of  silk 
My  grand,  good  dog  shall  fret; 

No  golden  collar  needs  he  to  show 
He  's  a  very  expensive  pet ; 

78 


MY  DOG  7 

But  just  my  loving  voice  for  a  chain, 

His  bound  at  my  slightest  sign, 
And  the  faith  when  we  look  in  each  other's  eyes 

Proclaim  that  my  dog  is  mine. 

He  never  was  carried  in  arms  like  a  babe, 

Nor  dragged  like  a  toy,  all  a-curlj 
For  he  proudly  knows  he  ?s  a  dog,  does  Jack, — 

And  I  'm  not  that  sort  of  a  girl. 


I  KNOW  A  LITTLE  MAIDEN 


I  KNOW  a  little  maiden  who 
can  knit  and  who  can 
sew; 

Who  can  tuck  her  little 
petticoat,  and  tie  a 
pretty  bow ; 

She  can  give  the  thirsty 
window-plants  a  cool- 
ing drink  each  day, 
And   dust  the   pretty   sit- 
ting-room, and   drive 
the  flies  away. 
She  can  bring  Papa  his  dressing-gown,  and  warm  his 

slippers  well, 
And  lay  the  plates  and  knives  and  forks,  and  ring  the 

supper-bell  j 
She  can  learn  her  lessons  carefully,  and  say  them  with 

a  smile, 

Then  put  away  her  books  and  slate  and  atlas,  in  a 
pile; 


I  KNOW  A  LITTLE   MAIDEN  81 

She  can  feed  the  bright  canary,  and  put  water  in  his 

cage; 

And  soothe  her  little  brother  when  he  flies  into  a  rage. 
She  can  dress  and  tend  her  dollies  like  a  mother,  day 

or  night, — 

Indeed,  one  half  the  good  she  does  I  cannot  now  recite. 
And  yet  there  are  some  things,  I  'm  told,  this  maiden 

cannot  do. 

She  cannot  say  an  ugly  word,  or  one  that  is  not  true ; — 
Who  can  this  little  maiden  be  f    I  wonder  if  it  's  you. 


gl  LSI!)  Is  la  Lsifl  ia_ia  IS  ISLBis&tsisisIgLa 


A  NEW  SONG-  TO 
AN  OLD   TUNE      • 

''You  are  old,  my  dear  dea- 
con/' the  schoolma'am  re- 
marked, 

k'And  studies  with  youth  pass 

away; 

Yet  you  're  quite  in  ad- 
vance of  the  books,  I  am 
sure, — 

Now  tell  me  the  reason,  I 
pray." 

"In  the  days  of  my  youth/' 

the  good  deacon  replied, 
"I   was   fleetest   of    foot    in 

my  setj 
And  I  ran  on  ahead  of  my 

studies  so  fast 
That  they  Ve  never  caught 
up  with  me  yet." 


THERE  once  was  a  man  with  a  sneeze, 
Who  always  would  sit  in  a  breeze. 
When  begged  to  take  shelter 
He  'd  cry :  "  I  should  swelter !  " 
And  straightway  go  on  with  his  sneeze. 


INTERNATIONAL 

SHE  came  from  a  round  black  dot  on  the  map,- 
This  dear  little  girl,  and  she  's  called  a  Jap. 
Maybe  my  sister  will  show  it  to  you :  — 
The  very  place  where  this  little  girl  grew. 

84 


INTERNATIONAL  85 

I  wish  she  knew  some  American  words, 

Such  as  "  How  do  you  do  ?  "  and  "  trees/'  and  "  birds." 

I  'd  like  to  talk  with  her  ever  so  much  — 

But  she  can't  tell  a  thing  that  I  say  from  Dutch. 

Well,  our  dollies  will  get  us  acquainted  to-day 
If  she  '11  only  come  out  in  the  Park  to  play ! 
If  it  were  not  for  nodding,  and  taking  their  hands, 
We  could  never  know  people  from  foreign  lands. 


SURPRISE 

WHAT  was  the  moon  a-spying 
Out  of  her  half-shut  eye? 
One  of  her  stars  went  flying 
Across  the  broad  blue  sky. 


<>* 


MOTHER 

EARLY  one  summer  morning, 

I  saw  two  children  pass ; 
Their  footsteps,  as  they  loitered, 

Wakened  the  dewy  grass. 

One,  lately  out  of  babyhood, 
Looked  up  with  eager  eyes; 

The  other  watched  her  wistfully, 
Oppressed  with  smothered  sighs. 

"  See,  Mother !  "  cried  the  little  one, 
"I  gathered  them  for  you — 
Clover  and  pretty  buttercups! 
And  Mabel  has  some  too." 

"Hush,  Nelly!"  whispered  Mabel, 
"We  have  not  reached  it,  yet. 
Wait  till  we  get  there,  darling, 
It  is  n't  far,  my  pet." 

"Get  where!"  asked  Nelly.     "Tell  me." 

"To  the  churchyard,"  Mabel  said. 
"No!  no!"  cried  little  Nelly, 
And  shook  her  sunny  head. 

Still  Mabel  whispered  sadly, 

"We  must  take  them  to  the  grave. 


88  MOTHER 

Come,  darling  ! "  and  the  childish  voice 
Tried  to  be  clear  and  brave. 

But  Nelly  still  kept  calling 

Far  up  into  the  blue  j 
"  See,  Mother,  see,  how  pretty ! 
We  gathered  them  for  you." 

And  when  her  sister  pleaded, 

She  cried  —  and  would  not  go  :  — 
"  Angels  don't  live  in  graveyards ; 
My  mother  don't,  I  know ! " 

Then  Mabel  bent  and  kissed  her. 

'  So  be  it,  dear,"  she  said; 
"  We  >11  take  them  to  the  arbor 
And  lay  them  there  instead. 

"For  mother  loved  it  dearly, 

It  was  the  sweetest  place!" 
And  the  joy  that  came  to  Nelly 
Shone  up  in  Mabel's  face. 

I  saw  them  turn  and  follow 
A  path  with  blossoms  bright, 

Until  the  nodding  branches 

Concealed  them  from  my  sight; 

But  still  like  sweetest  music 

The  words  came  ringing  through : 
"  See,  Mother,  see,  how  pretty ! 
We  gathered  them  for  you." 


"PHILOPENA!" 


THE  pretty  Princess  Wilhelmina 

Thought  she  'd  eat  a  Philopena. 

She  asked  the  Prince.     He  answered  "Yea"; 

And  "  caught "  was  he  that  very  day. 

The  present  came  in  course  of  time; 

No  jewel  it,  nor  gold  nor  delf. 

The  Prince  just  waited  for  his  prime, 

Then  gave  the  Princess  fair — himself! 


CONFUSION 

HEIGH-HO!  I  've  left  my  "B  O,  bo," 
And  "A  B,  ab"—  oh,  long  ago! 

And  gone  to  letters  three. 
(Dear  me!   What  does  that  last  word  spell 
The  last  I  learned!  I  knew  it  well  — 

It 's  W  and  E  and  B.) 

You  see,  I  ?ve  so  much  work  to  do  — 
Scrubbing  and  sweeping,  dusting  too  — 

I  can't  remember  half  I  know. 
And  oh!  the  spiders  drive  me  wild, 
Till  Mother  says :  "  What  ails  the  child  ! 

What  makes  her  fidget  so?" 
(Now,  sakes  alive!  What  can  it  be  — 
That  W  and  E  and  B?) 

As  soon  as  school  is  out,  I  run 

To  do  my  work.     It  ?s  never  done, 
But  when  my  lesson  once  is  said 
It  goes  and  pops  out  of  my  head  — 

All  on  account  of  dust  and  dirt. 

No  matter  how  my  hands  may  hurt, 
I  sweep  and  toil  the  livelong  day, 
And  try  to  brush  the  things  away. 


CONFUSION 

(It  's  all  the  spiders  —  don't  you  see  I ) 
And  yet  I  'm  glad  I  Ve  learned  to  spell. 
(What  is  that  word  ?    I  knew  it  well  — 

That  W  and  E  and  B ! ) 


91 


PUZZLED   FAIRY-FOLK 

ON  one  sole  eve  of  the  bright,  long  year 

There  is  trouble  in  Fairy-land  5 
There  is  dread,  and  wonder,  and  elfin  fear 

At  something  they  never  can  understand. 

For  "Why! "says  the  Queen, 
And  "Why!"  say  the  elves, 
And  "What  does  it  mean?" 

They  ask  of  themselves. 
"  We  'd  like  to  know  why, 
On  the  Fourth  of  July, 
These  mortals  make  such  a  commotion? 
Rattle  and  flash!     Fountains  of  fire 
Play  low,  play  round,  play  higher  and  higher  • 
Now,  what  it  >s  about, 
This  terrible  rout, 
We  have  n't  the  ghost  of  a  notion." 

Poor  little  fairy-folk,  dear  little  sprites ! 
What  can  you  know  of  wrongs  and  of  rights, 

Battles  and  victories ;  birth  of  a  nation0? 
Heed  not  these  jubilant  echoes  of  fights;  — 

Dance  and  rejoice  in  your  lightsome  creation. 


92 


MILD  FARMER  JONES  AND  THE  NAUGHTY 
BOY 


'COME  DOWN  FROM  OUT  MY  HICKORY-TREE."     "  YOU  WON'T,  YOU  NAUGHTY  BOY?  OH  FIE  ! 

CRIED  Farmer  Jones,  "What  '&  this  I  see? 
Come  down  from  out  my  hickory-tree! 
Come  down,  my  boy;  I  think  you  might; 
To  steal  is  neither  wise  nor  right." 


"You  won't,  you  naughty  boy?     Oh,  fie! 
You  dare  to  tell  me  mind  my  eye? 


MILD  FARMER  JONES  AND  THE  NAUGHTY  BOY  95 


HIS    FAITHFUL   DOG   HAS    MOUNTED   GUARD.          "  MY    STROKES    SHALL    BRING  DOWN    TREE 

AND  ALL." 


Come  down  this  instant!     What  <P  you  say? 
1  Takes  two  to  make  a  bargain/ —  eh  ? " 


Now,  Farmer  Jones,  as  mild  a  man 
As  any,  since  the  world  began, 
Resolves  on  action  fierce  and  bold, — 
Although  it  makes  his  blood  run  cold. 


His  faithful  dog  has  mounted  guard ; 
There  is  an  ax  in  yonder  yard, — 
"Now,  though  the  heavens  quake  and  fall, 
My  strokes  shall  bring  down  tree  and  all ! n 


96    MILD  FAEMEE  JONES  AND  THE  NAUGHTY  BOY 

Fast  come  the  blows,  but  vain  the  plot; 
The  tree  may  yield,  the  boy  will  not. 
His  pelting  nuts  the  farmer  blind; 
Yet  still  the  ax  its  cleft  doth  find. 


Ah !  who  is  this  doth  cry  "  Hold  up ! 
I  say,  tie  fast  that  yelping  pup ; 
Do  the  square  thing  by  me,  and  see 
If  I  don't  leave  your  hickory-tree?" 


>T  is  done.     The  faithful  dog  is  tied, 
The  shining  ax  is  turned  aside. 


THE   TREE   MAY  YIELD,  THE   BOY  WILL  NOT  "l   SAY,  TIE   FAST  THAT  YELPING  PUP." 


MILD  FARMER  JONES  AND  THE  NAUGHTY  BOY  97 


' NO  HOAXING,  NOW  ?  "  THE  YOUTH  DOTH  CRY.    SAID  JONES,  "  YOU  *RE  SORRY  NOW,  I  SEE. 

"No  hoaxing,  now!"  the  youth  doth  cry  — 
And  Farmer  Jones  replies,  "Not  I." 


Now,  mingling  with  the  song  of  bird, 
A  sound  of  tearing  clothes  is  heard, 
And  scraping  boots ;  and,  with  a  bound, 
That  naughty  boy  stands  on  the  ground. 


Said  Jones,  "You  >re  sorry  now,  I  see, 
For  knocking  nuts  from  off  my  tree ! n 
"  Well,  yes ;  if  you  '11  just  hold  the  pup, 
And  let  a  fellow  pick  ?em  up." 


98  MILD  FARMER  JONES  AND  THE  NAUGHTY  BOY 

"  All  right !  my  boy,"  cried  Farmer  Jones, 
Who  felt  delighted  in  his  bones  j 
For  never  since  the  world  began 
Was  seen  so  very  mild  a  man. 


ALARMED 


A  VERY  nervous  elephant 

One  day  became  afraid 

That  he  was  growing  rather  fat. 

"  Dear  me ! »  said  he,  "  if  I  thought  that, 

I  should  at  once  be  weighed!" 


WHAT  HAPPENED   TO  NELLY 

I  KNEW  a  little  girl, — 

You?    Oh,  no, — 
Who  came  to  live  on  earth, 

Just  to  grow; 
Just  to  grow  up  big 

Like  Mama, 
"Big  as  any  lady/7 

Said  Papa  5 
Not  to  stay  a  baby 

As  she  came;  — 
Yet  each  morning  found  her 

Quite  the  same. 

Quite  the  same,  they  said, 

Not  a  change 
Since  she  went  to  bed  — 

Ah,  how  strange ! 
Baby  Nell  at  night, 

Baby  Nell  at  dawn, 
100 


WHAT   HAPPENED   TO  NELLY 


101 


Everything  the  same, 
Not  a  dimple  gone. 

They  saw  her  every  hour, 
So  you  '11  own, 


BABY     NELL. 


If  a  change  had  come, 
They  7d  have  known. 

Yet  the  clothes  grew  small  — 

Sleeves  and  frocks; 
She  could  n't  wear  her  bibs, 

Nor  her  socks. 


102 


WHAT   HAPPENED   TO  NELLY 


Soon  she  stood  alone 
Yes,  indeed !   and  walked  ! 

Then  she  toddled  round;  — 
Then  she  talked ! 

Then  she  tried  to  help, 

All  she  could; 
Busy  little  inite, 

Kind  and  good ! 
Well,  as  years  went  on, — 

Seven,  maybe, — 
Not  a  soul  could  call 

Nell  a  baby. 


"THEN  SHE  TODDLED  ROUND." 


WHAT   HAPPENED   TO  NELLY  103 

Still  Mama  declared, 

Every  minute 
She  had  been  the  same — 

What  was  in  it  ? 

She  saw  her  all  the  time. 

So  you  11  own, 
If  a  change  had  happened 

She  'd  have  known. 
Baby  Nell  herself, 

Though  uncommon  wise, 
Ne'er  had  seen  an  inch 

Added  to  her  size. 
Even  Pomp,  the  dog, 

Never  seemed  to  say: 
"  Nell  is  not  the  same 

Now  as  yesterday." 

Yet,  as  I  have  said, 

Clothes  kept  growing  small, 
Tight  at  first,  and  then 

Would  n't  do  at  all. 
Even  Nelly's  toys, 

Skipping-rope  and  hoop, 
Once  quite  big  enough, 

Now  would  make  her  stoop. 
Why,  her  very  crib 

Seemed  to  shrink  away, 
Till  it  cramped  the  child 

Any  way  she  lay. 


104 


WHAT   HAPPENED   TO  NELLY 

So,  from  hour  to  hour, 

Not  a  person  knew, 
Looking  straight  at  Nell, 

That  she  ever  grew. 
Little  baby  Nell, 

On  the  nurse's  knee, 
Little  Nell  at  school 

Learning  ABC. 

Then  —  ah,  it  was  quick! 

Came  the  reading  class  j 
Then  arithmetic, — 

Clever  little  lass ! 


WHAT  HAPPENED  TO  NELLY 


105 


How  did  it  happen? 

When  did  she  change "? 
No  one  had  noticed  — 

Was  n't  it  strange ! 


Show  me  when  a  bud 
Changes  to  a  rose, 

Then  I  '11  tell  you  truly 
When  a  baby  grows. 


THE   SECRET 

I  WATCHED  a  butterfly  on  the  wing;     , 
I  saw  him  alight  on  a  sunny  spray. 

His  pinions  quivered; 

The  blossoms  shivered; 
I  know  he  whispered  some  startling  thing. 

But  why  so  bold, 

Or  what  he  told, 

While  poising  there  on  the  sunny  spray, 
I  Ve  never  learned  to  this  blessed  day. 


THISTLES ! 

THREE  velvety,  busy,  buzzing  bees 

Once  plunged  in  a  thistle-plant  up  to  their  knees. 

Alas!     Though  plucky  and  stout  of  heart, 

They  bounded  away  with  an  angry  start. 

For  the  thistle  's  the  touchiest  thing  that  grows  ; 

It  ?s  the  Grossest  old  plant !  as  every  one  knows. 

And  now  they  '11  give  you  a  bit  of  advice : 

"Don't  ever  run  into  a  thistle-plant  twice!" 

106 


THISTLES  I 


tm^ 

JEANNETTE  AND  JO. 


JEANNETTE  AND  JO 

Two  girls  I  know  —  Jeannette  and  Jo, 

And  one  is  always  moping; 
The  other  lassie,  come  what  may, 

Is  ever  bravely  hoping. 

Beauty  of  face  and  girlish  grace 

Are  theirs  for  joy  or  sorrow; 
Jeannette  takes  brightly  every  day, 

And  Jo  dreads  each  to-morrow. 

One  early  morn  they  watched  the  dawn  — 

I  saw  them  stand  together; 
Their  whole  day's  sport,  't  was  very  plain, 

Depended  on  the  weather. 

?T  will  storm  !  "  cried  Jo.    Jeannette  spoke  low  ; 
"  Yes,  but  ?t  will  soon  be  over." 
And,  as  she  spoke,  the  sudden  shower 
Came,  beating  down  the  clover. 


"  I  told  you  so  !  n  cried  angry  Jo  ; 
"It  always  is  a-raining! 


" 

109 


110  JEANNETTE  AND  JO 

Then  hid  her  face  in  dire  despair, 
Lamenting  and  complaining. 

But  sweet  Jeannette,  quite  hopeful  yet, — 

I  tell  it  to  her  honor, — 
Looked  up  and  waited  till  the  sun 

Came  streaming  in  upon  her; 

The  broken  clouds  sailed  off  in  crowds, 

Across  a  sea  of  glory. 
Jeannette  and  Jo  ran,  laughing,  in — 

Which  ends  my  simple  story. 


Joy  is  divine.  Come  storm,  come  shine, 
The  hopeful  are  the  gladdest; 

And  doubt  and  dread,  dear  girls,  believe, 
Of  all  things  are  the  saddest. 

In  morning's  light,  let  youth  be  bright : 
Take  in  the  sunshine  tender; 

Then,  at  the  close,  shall  life's  decline 
Be  full  of  sunset-splendor. 

And  ye  who  fret,  try,  like  Jeannette, 

To  shun  all  weak  complaining; 
And  not,  like  Jo,  cry  out  too  soon  — 
"It  always  is  a-raining!" 


MIDSUMMER  FROLICS 


DOWN  in  the  meadow,  close  by  the  hill, 

Some  one  is  having  a  party  j 
Never  was  heard  on  a  summer  night  still, 

Buzz  of  enjoyment  so  hearty. 

Strange !   for  the  elves  are  no  longer  on  earth. 

Strange !   for  the  fairies  are  over ! 
But,  sure  as  you  live,  there  are  frolic  and  mirth 

For  somebody,  down  in  the  clover. 


in 


LITTLE   SQUIRRELS,  CRACK  YOUR  NUTS 

LITTLE  squirrels,  crack  your  nuts; 

Chirp  your  busy  tune; 

Sound  your  merry  rut-a-tuts  — 

Boys  are  coming  soon! 

Hide  to-day,  and  pile  to-day, 

Hoard  a  goodly  store; 

When  the  boys  are  gone  away, 

You  may  find  no  more. 

Hear  you  not  their  merry  shout, 

Song,  and  happy  laughter? 

Sure  as  leaping,  boys  are  out ! 

Girls  are  coming  after. 

Hide  and  pile,  then,  while  you  may ; 

Hoard  a  goodly  store ; 

If  the  children  come  this  way, 

You  may  find  no  more. 


112 


DOWN  BY  THE   SEA 


"OLD  KING  COLE  was  a  jolly  old  soul, 

And  a  jolly  old  soul  was  he; 

He  called  for  his  pipe,  and  he  called  for  his  bowl, 
And  he  called  for  his  fiddlers  three." 

Now  who  were  the  fiddlers  I  And  what  did  they  fiddle, 

And  where  were  the  fiddlers  three? 
A  fiddle  for  fiddles!     King  Cole  is  a  riddle  — 

The  fiddlers  are  down  by  the  sea. 


113 


THE  TALE  OF  A  TUB 


Two  dear  friends  sat  down  to  tea; 
And  both  were  sleek  and  fair  to  see. 


ii 


All  went  well  until  one  spied 

Great  danger  near.     "  Oh,  look ! "  she  cried, 


014 


THE   TALE   OF   A  TUB 


115 


III 


A  furious,  uninvited  beast 

Was  rushing  madly  to  the  feast. 


IV 


Quick  as  a  flash  they  trapped  the  foe, 
Then  tied  him  fast,  and  bade  him  "Go!7' 


116 


THE  TALE  OF  A  TUB 


Then  safely  from  a  tall  tree  near 
They  saw  him  madly  disappear. 


VI 


Departed  foe!  Delighted  friends! 
And  so  this  thrilling  story  ends. 


THE   SAD   STORY   OF  LITTLE  JANE 

A  Calendar  of  Woe. 

JAN —  e,  little  saint,  was  sick  and  faint, 

FEE  —  rif  uge  she  had  none  ; 

MAR  —  malade  seemed  to  make  her  worse, 

APR  —  icots  were  all  gone. 

MAY — be,  she  thought,  in  some  fair  field, 

JUNE  —  berries  sweet  may  grow  ; 

JULY  —  and  June,  they  searched  in  vain, 

AUG  —  meriting  all  her  woe. 

SEPT  —  imus  failed  to  find  a  pill  — 

OCT  —  oroon  slave  was  he; 

Nov  —  ice,  poor  thing!  at  feeling  ill, 

DEC  —  eased  ere  long  was  she. 


117 


MOTHER'S  ARM 

FROM  the  low,  wide,  sheltering  wall 
Baby  drops  his  pretty  ball; 
Baby  wants  it,  that  is  all. 

Why  should  mother  hinder  so, 
Why  not  let  the  baby  go? 
Baby's  wish  is  law,  you  know. 

?T  will  not  always  be  the  way; 
Baby  11  go  alone  some  day. 
Mother  cannot  always  stay, — 

Well-a-day. 


A  SUGGESTION  FOR  A  HAPPY  NEW  YEAR 

SUPPOSE  we  think  little  about  number  one; 
Suppose  we  all  help  some  one  else  to  have  fun ; 
Suppose  we  ne'er  speak  of  the  faults  of  a  friend; 
Suppose  we  are  ready  our  own  to  amend; 
Suppose  we  laugh  with,  and  not  at,  other  folk, 
And  never  hurt  any  one  "  just  for  the  joke " ; 
Suppose  we  hide  trouble,  and  show  only  cheer  — 
7T  is  likely  we  '11  have  quite  a  Happy  New  Year! 

119 


UNSETTLED 

I  ?VE  a  sailor  suit ;  and  a  boat  to  row  j  — 
And  yet  there  's  something  I  7d  like  to  know 

If  I  am  a  stupid  (as  some  folks  agree), 
Why  then  it  is  plain  that  a  stupid  I  be. 
But  if  I  'm  no  stupid,  then  clever  am  I, 
And  likely  I  '11  be  quite  a  chap,  by  and  by. 
120 


TWINKLE,  twinkle,  little  star  — 
I  don't  wonder  what  you  are! 
I  Ve  learned  more  of  you,  you  see, 
Than  you  '11  ever  know  of  me. 


121 


THE  LETTERS  AT   SCHOOL 

ONE  day  the  letters  rushed  to  school, 

And  hindered  one  another; 
They  got  so  mixed  't  was  really  hard 

To  pick  out  one  from  t'  other. 

A  went  in  first,  and  Z  came  last; 

The  rest  were  all  between  them, — 
K,  L  and  M,  and  N,  O,  P,— 

I  wish  you  could  have  seen  them! 

B,  C,  D,  E  and  J,  K,  L 

Soon  jostled  well  their  betters; 

Q,  R,  S,  T  — I  grieve  to  say  — 
Were  very  naughty  letters. 

Of  course,  ere  long  they  came  to  words 
What  else  could  be  expected? 

Till  E  made  D,  J,  C  and  T 
Decidedly  dejected. 

But,  through  it  all,  the  Consonants 
Were  rudest  and  uncouthest, 

While  all  the  pretty  Vowel  girls 
Were  certainly  the  smoothest. 

And  simple  U  kept  far  from  Q, 
With  face  demure  and  moral. 
122 


124          THE  LETTERS  AT  SCHOOL 

"Because/7  she  said,  "we  are,  we  two, 
So  apt  to  start  a  quarrel ! " 

But  spiteful  P  said,  "  Pooh  for  U ! " 
(Which  made  her  feel  quite  bitter), 

And,  calling  O,  L,  E  to  help, 
He  really  tried  to  hit  her. 

Cried  A,  "Now  E  and  C,  come  here! 

If  both  will  aid  a  minute, 
Good  P  will  join  in  making  peace, 

Or  else  the  mischief  's  in  it." 


And  smiling  E,  the  ready  sprite, 
Said,  "  Yes,  and  count  me  double." 

This  done,  sweet  peace  shone  o'er  the  scene, 
And  gone  was  all  the  trouble! 

Meanwhile,  when  U  and  P  made  up, 
The  Cons'nants  looked  about  them, 

And  joined  the  Vowels  5  for,  you  see, 
They  could  n't  do  without  them. 


FOUR  LITTLE   BIRDS 


FOUR  little  birds  all  flew  from  their  nest, — 
Flew  north,  flew  south,  flew  east  and  west; 
They  thought  they  would  like  a  wider  view, 
So  they  spread  their  wings  and  away  they  flew. 


125 


DRESSING  MARY  ANN 


SHE  came  to  me  one  Christmas  day, 
In  paper,  with  a  card  to  say: 

H 

"From  Santa  Glaus  and  Uncle  John," — 
And  not  a  stitch  the  child  had  on! 

HI 

"  I  '11  dress  you ;  never  mind ! "  said  I, 
"And  brush  your  hairj  now,  don't  you  cry." 

126 


DRESSING   MARY  ANN 


127 


IV 

First,  I  made  her  little  hose, 

And  shaped  them  nicely  at  the  toes. 

V 

Then  I  bought  a  pair  of  shoes,— 
A  lovely  "dolly's  number  twos." 


VI 

Next  I  made  a  petticoat ; 

And  put  a  chain  around  her  throat. 

VII 
Then,  when  she  shivered,  I  made 

haste, 
And  cut  her  out  an  underwaist. 


128 


DRESSING  MARY  ANN 


VIII 


Next  I  made  a  pretty  dress ; 

It  took  me  'most  a  week,  I  guess. 


DRESSING   MARY  ANN  129 

IX 

And  then  I  named  her  Mary  Ann, 
And  gave  the  dear  a  pretty  fan. 


Next  I  made  a  velvet  sacqne 
That  fitted  finely  in  the  back. 

XI 

Soon  I  trimmed  a  lovely  hat, — 
How  pleased  and  sweet  she  looked  in  that ! 

XII 

O,  I  forgot,  that  was  n't  all, 
I  bought  her  next  a  parasol! 


130 


DRESSING  MARY  ANN 


She  looked  so  grand  when  she  was  dressed, 
You  really  never  would  have  guessed 
How  very  plain  she  seemed  to  be, 
The  day  when  first  she  came  to  me. 


THE  FROG,  THE  CRAB  AND  THE  LIMPSY  EEL 

A  FROG,  a  crab  and  a  limpsy  eel 

Agreed  to  run  a  race. 
The  frog  leaped  so  far  he  lost  his  way. 

And  tumbled  on  his  face. 
The  crab  went  well,  but  quite  forgot 

To  go  ahead  as  he  went, 
And  so  crawled  backward  every  step  — 

On  winning  the  race  intent. 
And  the  limpsy  eel,  he  curled  and  curled, 

And  waved  to  left  and  right, 
Till  the  crab  came  backing  the  other  way, 

And  the  frog  jumped  past  them  quite. 
But  when  last  I  looked,  the  limpsy  eel 

"Was  curling  himself  apace, 
The  frog  had  tangled  his  two  hind  legs, 

And  the  crab  had  won  the  race ! 


131 


NEW-YEAR'S  DAY 

"  A  HAPPY  New  Year  to  you,  my  lady ! 
To  give  you  this  greeting  I  came." 
"  Oh,  thank  you,  indeed/7  said  the  sweet  little  lady, 
"  And,  truly,  I  wish  you  the  same." 

"  I  .wish  you  many  returns,  my  lady, 
A  long  chain  of  years,  I  may  say, 

132 


NEW-YEAR'S  DAY  133 

Linked  into  garlands  of  joy,  my  lady, 
And  now  I  must  bid  you  good  day." 

"  Yes,  many  returns,'7  said  the  bright  little  lady, 
"  In  sooth,  I  would  wish  for  them,  too  j 
A  long,  long  chain,"  said  the  dear  little  lady, 
"  Of  beautiful  visits  from  you ! " 


TO  A  YOUNG   GIRL 

With  a  Spray  of  Autumn  Leaves. 

THOUGH  autumn  winds  be  sighing  in  your  future, 
Molly  dear, 

Their  music  may  be  sweeter  than  the  early  spring- 
time cheer; 

As  the  fleeting  moments  ripen  in  the  fullness  of  your 
prime, 

There  '11  be  tints  and  shadows  richer  far  than  those  of 
summer-time ; 

And,  so,  these  leaves  prophetic  made  me  dream,  my 
girl,  of  you, 

As  they  trembled  in  their  gladness,  with  the  sunlight 
shining  through. 


CAT'S-CRADLE 

"  IT  's  criss-cross  high,  and  it  ?s  criss-cross  flat ; 
Then  four  straight  lines  for  the  pussy  cat; 
Then  criss-cross  under  5   ah,  now  there  7U  be 
A  nice  deep  cradle,  dear  Grandpa !   See ! 

"  Now  change  again,  and  it  7s  flat  once  more  — 
A  lattice- window !   But  where  ?s  the  door? 
Why,  change  once  more,  and,  holding  it  so, 
We  can  have  a  very  good  door,  you  know. 

"  Now  over,  now  under,  now  pull  it  tight ; 
See-saw,  Grandpa  !  —  exactly  right ! " 
So  prattled  the  little  one,  Grandfather's  pet, 
As  deftly  she  wrought.     "  See,  now  it  's  a  net ! 

"  But  where  did  you  learn  cat's-cradle  so  well  ? " 
She  suddenly  asked,-  and  he  could  not  tell. 
He  could  not  tell,  for  his  heart  was  sore, 
As  he  gravely  said,  "I  have  played  it  before." 

What  could  the  sweet  little  maiden  know 
Of  beautiful  summers  long  ago? 
Of  the  merry  sports,  and  the  games  he  played, 
When  "Mama,"  herself,  was  a  little  maid? 

134 


CAT'S-CEADLE 


135 


What  could  she  know  of  the  thoughts  that  ran 
Through  the  weary  brain  of  the  world- worn  man  ? 
But  she  knew,  when  she  kissed  him,  dear  Grandpa 

smiled, 
And  that  was  enough  for  the  happy  child. 


SIGNS   OF  MAY 

MAY  day  and  June  day, 

Spring  and  summer  weather, 
Going  to  rain  •    going  to  clear ; 

Trying  both  together. 
Flowers  are  coming !   No,  they  're  not, 

Whilst  the  air  ?s  so  chilly; 
First  it  's  cold,  then  it  's  hot  — 

Is  n't  weather  silly? 

136 


SIGNS  OP   MAY  137 

S'pose  the  little  vi'lets  think 

Spring  is  rather  funny. 
So  they  hide  themselves  away, 

Even  where  it  's  sunny. 
S'pose  the  trees  must  think  it  's  time 

To  begin  their  growing. 
See  the  little  swelling  buds! 

See  how  plain  they  7re  showing! 
S'pose  they  know  they  're  going  to  make 

Peaches,  apples,  cherries. 
Even  vines  and  bushes  know 

When  to  start  their  berries. 
Only  little  girls  like  me 

Don't  know  all  about  it: 
Maybe,  though,  the  reason  is 

We  can  do  without  it. 
Winter-time  and  summer-time 

We  keep  on  a-growing; 
So,  you  see,  we  need  n't  be — 

Like  the  flowers,  and  like  the  trees, 

And  the  birds  and  bumblebees — 
Always  wise  and  knowing. 


JOHNNY  AND   MEG 

"  STRAWBERRIES  !    Ripe  strawberries !  " 

Cried  lusty  Johnny  Strong; 
And  he  sold  his  baskets  readily 
To  folks  who  came  along. 

But  soon  a  tiny  voice  piped  forth, 

«Me,  too!»    Meg  could  not  shout 
As  John  did.     Yet  she  too  must  sell 
The  fruit  she  bore  about. 

"Ho,  STRAW-BERR-E-E-S ! "  roared  lusty  John, 

"Me, too!"  piped  Meg,  so  sad. 
Now  Johnny  made  good  sales  tha,t  day, 
But  Meg  sold  all  she  had. 


ON  THE    LAGOON 

(Jackson  Park,  Chicago,  1893.) 

"  FULL  ! "  cried  the  gondolier.    Swish  ! — and  they  started. 
Great  was  the  crowd,  but  they  would  not  be  parted; 
So  in  they  all  scrambled  —  from  Clara  to  Kitty  — 
Little  white  citizens  of  the  White  City. 

138 


THE  PENSIVE   CRICKET 

ONE  cold  November  morning, 
All  kind  companions  scorning, 
A  pensive  cricket  sought 
In  melancholy  thought 
His  woes  to  stifle. 
"  Alas  !  alas  ! w  cried  he, — 
"  Ah  woe,  ah  woe  is  me ! 
I  really  do  not  see 
\\  Why  I  should  be 

0  So  melan  —  melancholy. 
Ah  me ! 
Let  7s  see." 

He  thought,  and  thought,  and  thought,- 
That  cricket  did. 
"  It  is  not  love,  nor  care, 
That  fills  me  with  despair. 
My  chirp  is  sharp  and  sweet, 
And  nimble  are  my  feet; 
My  appetite  is  good, 
And  bountiful  my  food; 
My  coat  is  smooth  and  bright; 
My  wings  are  free  and  light, — 

140 


THE  PENSIVE  CKICKET  141 

Then  ah,  and  oh,  ah  me! 
What  can  the  matter  be?" 


Long  time  the  cricket  sighed, 

And  muttered  low :  "  Confound  it ! n 

Then  joyfully  he  cried: 
"  Eureka !  Oh,  Eureka  ! » 

By  which  he  meant,  "I  ?ve  found  it" — 

The  learned  little  shrieker! 
"  It  is  —  ah,  well-a-day  ! 

Because  my  girl  7s  away, 

My  nimble,  dimble  Dolly, 

My  cheery,  deary  Polly. 

Oh,  Queen  of  little  girls  !  — 

I  like  her  sunny  curls ; 

I  like  her  eyes  and  hair, 

Her  funny  little  stare, — 

Her  way  of  jumping  quick 

Whene'er  she  hears  me  click. 

She  's  loving  and  she  7s  neat, 

She  's  spry  and  true  and  sweet; 

And  though  I  caper  free, 

She  never  steps  on  me. 

Kee-nick !   kee-nick ! 

Ker-tick  !   a- tick ! 

And  now  the  thought  has  come, — 

To-morrow  she  '//  ~be  home! 

My  Polly,  Polly,  Polly, 

My  nimble,  dimble  Dolly ! 


142 


THE  PENSIVE  CEICKET 


I  ?11  dance  to-night 
In  the  bright  moonlight, 
To-morrow  I  '11  see  Polly!  — 
Tra  la!   How  very  jolly!'7 


Next  night  the  house  with  pleasure  rang, 

For  Polly-girl  had  come ; 
The  cricket  on  the  hearthstone  sang, — 

And  home  once  more  was  home. 


POOR  JACK-IN-THE-BOX 

FRIGHTEN  the  children,  do  I?    Pop  with  too  sudden  a 

jump ! 
Well,  how  do  you  think  I  felt,  all  shut  in  there  in  a 

lump  ? 
And  did  n't  I  get  a  shock  when  the  lid  came  down  on 

my  head? 
And  if  you  were  squeezed  up  and  locked  in,  would  n't 

you  get  ugly  and  red"? 
If  you  think  I  'm  so  dreadful,  my  friend,  suppose  you 

just  try  it  yourself; 
Let  some  one  shut  you  in  a  box,  and  put  you  away 

on  the  shelf  — 
And  then,  when  the  lid  is  unhooked,  if  you  don't  leap 

out  with  a  whack, 
And  look  like  a  fright  when  you  spring,  I  '11  give  in, 

or  my  name  is  n't  Jack. 


143 


WHY 

ONCE  I  was  a  little  maid 

With  eager  heart  and  mind; 
And  through  the  wondrous  hours,  I  sought 

Something  I  could  not  find. 

144 


WHY  145 

No  single  thing;  't  was  that,  to-day, 

To-morrow,  it  was  this $ 
And  wistfully  I  heard  folk  say: 
"A  funny  little  miss! 

"  She  queries  so  !   She  wonders  so ! " 
They  said — "the  pretty  thing!" 
But  what  I  sought,  or  wished  to  know, 
They  quite  forgot  to  bring. 

And  now  that  I  am  older  grown, 

And  do  as  I  7ve  a  mind, 
When  little  lips  ask,  "Why!"— I  '11  own 

To  answer  I  'm  inclined. 

Their  "  How  !  "  and  "  What !  "  and  "  Why  ?  "  you  see, 

Mean  that  they,  too,  would  reach 
And  find  a  something  that  they  need 

In  some  one's  friendly  speech. 


10 


SUNNY  DAYS 

DID  you  ever  go  011  sunny  days 

The  pretty  flowers  to  pull, 

And,  kneeling  in  the  meadow, 

Fill  your  little  apron  full? 

Did  you  ever  see  the  daisies  shine, 

And  hear  the  robins  start, 

Till  you  sometimes  found  it  hard  to  tell 

The  flowers  and  song  apart?- 

Did  you  ever  see  a  butterfly 

Upon  the  blossoms  sway, 

And  leave  it  free  to  rest  unharmed, 

Or  go  its  fluttering  way? 

And  did  you  ever  feel  the  breeze 

Steal  lightly  to  your  cheek, 

As  if  it  loved  you  very  much 

And  had  a  word  to  speak  ? 

Well,  if  you  have  known  all  these  things 

So  beautiful  and  wild, 

I  'm  sure  the  birds  and  flowers  and  breeze 

Have  known  a  happy  child. 


146 


ALICE  IN  WONDERLAND 

SWEET  Alice,  while  in  Wonderland, 

Found  a  fine  baby-brother ; 
She  took  him  by  his  little  hand, 

And  said:   ''We  '11  look  for  Mother." 

And  soon  they  met  a  dolphinet, 

Twice  in  a  single  day; 
Said  she :  "  How  queer !  You  're  waiting  yet ! 

Why  don't  you  go  away?" 
"  Because,"  said  he,  "  my  ways  are  set, 

And  who  are  you,  I  pray?" 

148 


ALICE  IN   WONDERLAND  149 

"I  think  I  'm  Alice,  sir/'  said  she, 
"  But  Alice  had  no  brother ; 
I  can't  quite  make  it  out,  you  see, 
Until  I  find  my  mother." 

Then,  low,  the  dolphinet  replied, 
"  7T  is  passing  strange/' said  he, — 
"  That  mother,  on  my  cousin's  side, 
Is  next  of  kin  to  me!" 

And  so  they  journeyed  far  and  wide, 

A  family  of  three  j  — 
And  never  on  a  single  point 

Did  one  of  them  agree! 


10* 


TO  W.  F.  C. 

(With  a  Copy  of  "Alice's  Adventures  in  Wonderland") 

TAKE  a  nibble  from  the  book 

At  its  Tightest  side. 
Down  and  down  the  rabbit  hole 

Let  your  fancy  slide  j 
In  a  whiff  you  711  be  so  small, 
You  '11  not  know  yourself  at  all  $ 

Ah,  't  will  be  delicious  joy — 

Just  to  be  a  little  boy! 

Take  another  nibble  then — 

At  the  left  side,  not  the  wrong  — 
And  beyond  the  ranks  of  men 

Up  you  11  stretch,  sir,  tall  and  strong ! 
You  will  find  your  very  own 

In  the  land  where  you  belong; 
Yet  be  like  a  bubble  blown 

Over  realms  of  fun  and  song. 
Light  as  thistle-down  you  '11  float ; 

Firm  as  granite  you  will  stand  j 
Sailing  in  a  paper  boat 

Fast  and  far  through  Wonderland ! 


150 


THE  LITTLE   BIG  WOMAN  AND   THE   BIG 
LITTLE   GIRL 


A  LITTLE  big  woman  and  a  big  little  girl, 

They  merrily  danced  all  the  day  5 
The  woman  declared  she  was  too  small  to  work  ; 
And  the  girl  said :  "  I  ?m  too  big  to  play." 
So  they  merrily  danced 
While  the  sunlight  stayed, 


151 


152  THE  LITTLE  BIG  WOMAN 

And  practised  their  steps 
In  the  evening  shade. 

"  We  must  eat,"  said  the  little  big  woman.     "  Why  not!" 
"  Why  not  f  »  said  the  big  little  girl ; 
So  when  supper-time  came,  they  sipped  as  they  skipped, 
And  swallowed  their  cake  in  a  whirl. 
And  they  merrily  danced 

While  the  twilight  stayed, 
And  practised  their  steps 
In  the  evening  shade. 


NANNY  ANN 

"  OH,  Nanny  Ann !  the  sun  is  bright, 
The  sky  is  blue  and  clear  j 

All  ugly  clouds  are  out  of  sight, 
No  rain  to-day,  my  dear. 

No  need,  as  I  can  plainly  tell, 

For  you  to  take  your  fine  umbrelP. 

Go  to  the  spring,  my  pretty  daughter; 

Fetch  me  a  jug  of  sparkling  water." 


NANNY  ANN  153 

Now  Nanny  Ann  herself  was  bright; 

Says  she :  "  Though  skies  are  clear, 
And  ugly  clouds  are  not  in  sight, 

>T  is  April,  mother  dear. 
The  ways  above,  no  soul  can  tell; 
1 7d  rather  take  my  fine  umbrell'." 
So  saying,  off  she  went  for  water ;  — 
Now  was  not  she  a  wise  young  daughter? 


THE  FOUR  LITTLE  IMPS 

FOUR  little  imps  and  four  little  birds 

Lived  up  in  the  selfsame  tree; 
And  the  kindly  ways  of  those  four  little  imps 

Were  a  beautiful  sight  to  see. 

They  fed  and  tended  those  orphan  birds 

All  through  the  blossoming  days; 
And  never  were  tired  of  sitting  around 

And  watching  their  comical  ways. 

Their  pitiful  squeak  they  took  for  a  song 

As  sweet  as  they  ever  had  heard; 
And  they  sometimes  laughed,  and  oftener  sighed7 

In  feeding  each  motherless  bird. 

So,  gently  they  tended  them,  day  by  day, 
Till  their  four  little  pets  had  grown 

And  longing  to  go  to  the  beautiful  sky, 
Each  bird  from  the  nest  had  flown. 

And  when  all  were  gone,  the  four  little  .imps 

Did  wipe  their  eight  little  eyes, 
And  scamper  away  to  assuage  their  grief  — 

Which  seems  to  me  rather  wise. 


154 


THE   SMILING  DOLLY 

I  WHISPERED  to  my  Dolly, 
And  told  her  not  to  tell 

(She  ?s  a  really  lovely  Dolly  — 
Her  name  is  Rosabel). 

"  Rosy/'  I  said,  "  stop  smiling, 

For  I  7ve  been  dreadful  bad; 
You  must  n't  look  so  pleasant, 
When  I  am  feeling  sad! 

156 


THE   SMILING  DOLLY  157 

"  I  took  Mama's  new  ear-ring, — 

I  did,  now,  Rosabel, — 
And  I  never  even  asked  her, — 
Now,  Kosy,  don't  you  tell! 

"You  see  I  '11  try  to  find  it 

Before  I  let  her  know  5 
She  'd  feel  so  very  sorry 
To  think  I  'd  acted  so." 

Still  Rosabel  kept  smiling; 

And  I  just  cried  and  cried  — 
And  while  I  searched  all  over, 

Her  eyes  were  opened  wide. 

"  Oh,  Rosy,  where  I  dropped  it 

I  can't  imagine,  dear  " ; 
And  still  she  kept  on  smiling, — 
I  thought  it  very  queer. 

I  had  wheeled  her  round  the  garden 

In  her  gig  till  I  was  lame; 
Yet  when  I  told  my  troubles, 

She  smiled  on,  just  the  same ! 

Her  hair  hung  down  her  shoulders 

Like  silk,  all  made  of  gold, 
I  kissed  her,  then  I  shook  her, 

Oh,  dear !  how  I  did  scold ! 

"  You  're  really  naughty,  Rosy, 
To  look  so  when  I  cry; 


158  THE  SMILING  DOLLY 

When  my  mama  >s  in  trouble 
I  never  laugh, — not  I." 

And  still  she  kept  on  smiling, 
The  queer,  provoking  child! 

I  shook  her  well  and  told  her 
Her  conduct  drove  me  wild. 

When  —  only  think  !  that  ear-ring 
Fell  out  of  Bosy's  hair! 

When  I  had  dressed  the  darling, 
I  must  have  dropped  it  there. 

She  doubled  when  I  saw  it, 
And  almost  hit  her  head! 

Again  I  whispered  softly, 
And  this  is  what  I  said: 

"  You  precious,  precious  Rosy ! 

Now  I  '11  go  tell  Mama 
How  bad  I  was — and  sorry  — 
And  oh,  how  good  you  are ! 

"For,  Rose,  I  had  n't  lost  it  — 
You  knew  it  all  the  while, 
You  knew  I  ?d  shake  it  out,  dear, 
And  that 's  what  made  you  smile." 


HOW  DO   BIRDS  FIRST   LEARN  TO   SING! 


How  do  birds  first  learn  to  sing? 

From  the  whistling  wind  so  fleet, 
From  the  waving  of  the  wheat, 
From  the  rustling  of  the  leaves, 
From  the  raindrop  on  the  eaves, 
From  the  children's  laughter  sweet, 
From  the  plash  when  brooklets  meet. 

Little  birds  begin  their  trill 
As  they  gaily  float  at  will 
In  the  gladness  of  the  sky, 
When  the  clouds  are  white  and  high; 
In  the  beauty  of  the  day 
Speeding  on  their  sunny  way, 
Light  of  heart,  and  fleet  of  wing  — 
That 's  how  birds  first  learn  to  sing. 

X59 


LITTLE    NORWAY    SPRUCE. 


CHRISTMAS  EVE 

ALL  night  long  the  pine-trees  wait, 
Dark  heads  bowed  in  solemn  state, 
Wondering  what  may  be  the  fate 

Of  Little  Norway  Spruce. 

Did  they  take  him  for  his  good?  — 
Gallant  little  tree  that  stood 
Only  lately  in  the  wood  — 

Little  Norway  Spruce! 

160 


CHRISTMAS  EVE  161 

Gone  the  pretty  tree  so  trim, 
Lithe  was  he,  and  strong  of  limb ! 
All  the  pines  were  proud  of  him, — 
Little  Norway  Spruce. 

That  night  the  lonely  little  tree 
In  the  dark  stood  patiently, 
Far  away  from  forest  free, 

Little  Norway  Spruce. 

Chained  and  laden,  but  intent 
On  the  pines  his  thoughts  were  bent; 
They  might  tell  him  what  it  meant, 
Little  Norway  Spruce! 

Morning  came.    The  children.    "  See ! 
Oh,  our  glorious  Christmas-tree  ! " 
Gifts  for  every  one  had  he  j  — 

Happy  Norway  Spruce ! 


THE   CIRCUS   CLOWN'S   DREAM 


A  CIRCUS   CLOWN   dreamed  a 
dream,  one  night, 

That  wakened  him  with 

laughing  • 

And  when  he  told  it  in  high 
delight, 

Of  how  he   dreamed  of  a 

circus  horse 
That  flew  through  the  air 

as  a  matter  of  course, 
His  comrades  thought  he 
was  chaffing. 

"  Not  so/'  he  declared.     "  I  say 
it  is  true"- 

And  they  opened  their  eyes  with 

wonder. 

' '  I  saw  him  as  plain  as  I  now  see  you ; 
That  horse    swung,  too,   on   a   high 

trapeze, — 

And  he  lifted  me  up  from  my  hands  and  knees 
Till  gaily  I  swung  under. 

"  He  slid  down  the  pole  like  a  half -ton  cat, 

And  swung  by  a  rope,  my  cronies. 
Then  he  vaulted  and  climbed  like  an  acrobat; 

163 


164 


THE  CIECUS  CLOWN'S  DREAM 


He  lay  on  his  back,  spun  a  ball  with  his  feet, — 
And  his  spring-board  leaping  was  quite  complete : 
Why,  he  leaped  over  three  fat  ponies ! 

"  What 's  more,  he  did  the  aquarium  act, 

Stayed  under  water  among  the  fishes ! 
You  need  n't  wink, —  it  7s  a  solemn  fact. 
Then  as  i  the  Great  Professor  Equine 
And  his  Wonderful  Sons/  O  friends  of  mine ! 
He  exceeded  my  proudest  wishes. 

"  But  that  was  n't  all  of  my  wondrous  dream, — 

So  full  of  magic  and  clatter. 
You  should  have  heard  the  spectators  scream 

When  three  great  lions,  with  grace  and  ease, 
Began  to  juggle  like  Japanese 
With  stick  and  ball  and  platter. 


THE  CIRCUS   CLOWN'S   DREAM 


165 


"  Then  my  turn  came,"  said  the  circus  clown, 

"  For  I  had  to  earn  my  money ; 
So  I  ambled  up,  and  nimbled  down, 

And  gave  my  liveliest  tricks  and  jokes, — 


11* 


166  THE   CIRCUS  CLOWN'S  DREAM 

I  was  doing  my  best  to  amuse  the  folks, — 
As  funniest  of  the  funny, — 

"When  all  the  people  burst  out  crying, 
And  begged  me  hard  to  stop  my  trying. 
In  vain  I  gave  my  comical  blink 
And  changed  my  costumes,  quick  as  a  wink; 
You  never  heard  such  wails  and  weeping. 
This  put  a  sudden  end  to  my  sleeping; 
I  'woke  to  learn,  though  strange  it  may  seem, 
They  wept  because  't  was  the  end  of  my  dream!" 


AN  APPEAL 

BY  UNCLE   JOHN 

OH,  children,  if  you  love  us, — 
Heed  well  this  pleading  song! 

When  we  bid  you  learn  your  lessons, 
Dortt  study  them  too  long. 

And,  children,  since  ingratitude 

The  meanest  is  of  crimes, 
When  we  give  you  drums  and  trumpets, 

Won't  you  play  on  them  sometimes? 

When,  now  and  then,  we  offer  you 

Fresh  caramels,  oh,  pray, — 
We  do  beseech  you,  darlings, — 

Don't  throw  them  all  away. 

And  don't  be  greedy,  either, 

With  Dr.  Allopath, 
But  try  to  be  content,  when  ill, 

With  all  the  drugs  he  hath. 

Enough  's  enough.     Yet  little  ones 

This  riddle  pray  unlock: 
Why  do  you  go  to  bed  so  soon 

And  give  us  such  a  shock, 
Instead  of  saying :  "  Well,  this  once 

We  '11  wait  till  ten  o'clock  "  ? 

167 


ROBBY'S   SPAN 

IN  the  soft,  green  light  of  the  leafy  June, 
"Maud  S."  and  "Nancy"  were  humming  a  tune; 
Humming  and  chatting,  they  soberly  swayed 
In  the  hammock  under  the  linden's  shade. 

Said  "Maud  S."  to  "Nancy":   "To  make  them  quite 

strong, 

Mama  said  we  scarcely  could  take  too  much  pains  "  ; 
"  Oh,  yes  ! "  answered  "  Nancy,"  "  and  ever  so  long !  — 
But,  how  funny  for  horses  to  make  their  own  reins ! " 

A  live  pair  of  horses.     They  worked  side  by  side, 
As  each  a  crochet-needle  daintily  plied. 
Their  true  names  were  Polly  and  Alice  Adair, 
And  never  was  seen  a  more  beautiful  pair. 

Spirited,  supple,  strong,  gentle,  and  fleet 

Were  "Maud  S."  and  "Nancy,"  as  Robby  allowed, 

Rob  was  their  master, —  so  chubby  and  sweet. 
And  surely  he  had  a  good  right  to  be  proud. 

169 


170  BOBBY'S   SPAN 

Such  a  grip  as  he  had !    Such  a  "  whoa  !  "  and  a  "go  !" 
Such  a  power  over  horses — (of  their  kind,  you  know) ; 
Such  a  genius  for  making  them  follow  his  will, — 
For  speeding  them  madly,  or  holding  them  still! 

Well,  it  seems  that  one  day,  when  the  spirited  span 
"Were  hitched  to  a  rose-bush  that  stood  by  the  door, 

At  the  sight  of  a  spider,  they  broke  loose  and  ran ; 
And  Robby  sat  wailing  as  never  before. 

His  lines  were  all  tangled,  and  broken,  and  torn. 
The  rose-bush  rained  petals,  and  sprang  back  in  scorn, 
For  "Maud  S."  and  "Nancy,"  as  Robby  declared, 
"Had  turned  into  girls  just  because  they  were  scared!'' 

In  vain  they   begged  pardon,  flushed,   laughing  and 
warm  5 

In  vain  coaxed  and  kissed  in  their  prettiest  style; 
But  at  last,  by  a  promise,  they  conquered  the  storm, 

And  won  from  their  master  a  nod  and  a  smile. 


They  would  make  him  "a   new  set  of  reins  —  good 

and  strong!" 
Make  him  "reins   that    were    nearly  a  dozen   yards 

long!" 

Ah,  "Maud  S."  and  "Nancy" — you  beautiful  span! 
'T  is  you  who  can  manage  the  stout  little  man! 


BOBBY'S   SPAN 


171 


And  this  was  the  reason  they  swung  side  by  side, 
As  each  a  crochet-needle  daintily  plied  5  — 
Their  true  names  were  Polly  and  Alice  Adair, 
And  never  was  seen  a  more  beautiful  pair. 


HIS   REPORT 


THERE  was  a  worthy  schoolmaster 
Who  wrote  to  the  trustees 

A  full  report,  three  times 
a  year,  in  words  quite 
like  to  these: 
"The  scholars  are  so 
orderly,  so  studious 
and  kind, 

7T  is  evident  I  have  a 
gift  to  train  the  youth- 
ful mind." 

172 


EIGHT-DAY   CLOCKS 

(A  Rhyme  for  Young  Calculators) 

How  often  I  've  sustained  a  shock, 

Since  I  have  owned  my  eight-day  clock! 

At  first,  I  wonnd  it  once  a  week, 

(Bless  me !  how  the  key  did  creak !) 

And  then  I  pondered,  "  Where  's  the  need  ? 

The  thing  wonld  go  at  even  speed 

A  whole  day  longer,  if  neglected  5 

And  I,  for  one,  can't  be  expected 

To  wind  and  wind  on  every  Sunday 

A  clock  that  7s  bound  to  run  till  Monday." 

And  yet  each  week  to  add  a  day, 

And  recollect,  is  not  my  way; 

And  this  it  is  that  bothers  me  •  — 

My  clock  and  I  do  not  agree. 

Suppose  you  buy  an  eight-day  clock, 
And  add  it  to  your  household  stock, 
And  wind  it  every  week,  we  '11  say, 
Heeding  not  that  extra  day; 
How  many  times  (to  be  quite  clear) 
Must  it  be  wound  within  the  year! 
And  on  the  other  hand  suppose 
You  let  it  run  till  toward  its  close, 

173 


174  EIGHT-DAY   CLOCKS 

And  so,  on  each  eighth  day,  delight 
In  winding  it  with  gentle  might, 
And  never  miss  the  task  —  't  is  clear, 
You  '11  wind  it  fewer  times  a  year; 
But  just  how  many  times,  you  see, 
May  best  be  told  by  you,  not  me. 


TINSEL  WITHOUT,   BUT   METAL   WITHIN 

I  'M  only  my  lady's  page  — 
And  just  for  the  night  of  the  ball  — 

To  prance  on  a  parlor  stage, 
And  run  at  her  beck  and  call. 


I  'm  only  my  lady's  page, 

But  mark  me,  my  fellows,  all 

You  '11  be  civiler  men,  I  '11  engage, 
When  I  pommel  you — after  the  ball. 


175 


BERRY-TIME 

FLOWERS  and  fruits  of  the  summer, 

Can  you  hear  us  children  shout, 
When,  over  the  fields  and  hillsides, 

We  seek  and  find  you  out? 

Do  you  hide  from  us  ever  on  purpose, 
And,  deep  in  the  green,  keep  still? 

Or  is  it  quite  social  and  pleasant 
When  basket  and  pail  we  fill? 

And  the  bumblebees  —  how  can  you  bear  them? 

Well,  sometimes,  I  think  it  is  true 
They  have  their  sharp  stings  for  us  people, 

And  only  their  velvet  for  you. 


176 


IN    BLACKBERRY    SEASON. 


12 


THE  THREE   TIGERS 

THREE  tigers  went  to  take  a  drink; 
And  what  do  you  think?    What  do  you  think? 
They  drank  as  much  as  heart  could  wish, 
And  never  swallowed  a  single  fish. 


178 


A    TERRIBLE    TIGER 

A  TIGER  who  signs  himself  T 

Is  a  gourmand  most  dreadful  to  see; 

He  eats  and  he  eats 

All  possible  meats, 

And  all  kinds  of  sweets, 

Then  fears  that  they  will  not  agree. 


179 


FAR  AWAY 

ONE  night,  in  the  bright,  warm  summer, 
Mother  went  —  oh,  so  far  away! 

So  very  far!     Yet  quite  near  her, 
In  my  pretty  bed  I  lay. 

She  stood  and  looked  from  the  window, 
In  the  moonlight  cool  and  clear; 

I  called  her  as  she  stood  there, 
But  mother  did  not  hear.    .   .   . 

She  did  not  hear  when  I  called  her  — 

She  was  gone  so  very  far! 
I  lay  and  wished  I  was  only 

The  moonlight,  or  a  star; 

Then  she  might  soon  have  known  it  — 

How  lonely  I  was  for  her. 
But  I  waited,  and  waited,  and  waited, 

And  mother  did  not  stir. 

180 


FAR   AWAY 


181 


At  last  she  turned,  and  smiling 
Said,  "You  awake,  little  Jack?" 

But  I  only  could  sob  and  kiss  her 
So  glad  that  mother  was  back ! 


12* 


HANS  CHRISTIAN  ANDERSEN 

(Copenhagen,  August  4,  1875) 

THERE  is  silence  in  the  Northland,  for  one  hath  passed 

away 

Honored  of  all,  a  poet-soul,  weary  for  many  a  day  — 
Weary  of  earth,  of  suffering,  of  toil  and  cumbering  care, 
Eager  to  lay  the  burden  down,  but  willing  still  to  bear. 
A  silence  in  the  Northland.     For  Denmark's  heart  is 

sad — 
Sad  for  the  gentle  Andersen,  the  youngest  soul  she  had ! 

182 


HANS  CHRISTIAN  ANDEESEN  183 

Sad  for  the  countless  little  ones  who  crowd  about  his 

bier, 
Glad   for  the   voice   that  evermore  the   listening  world 

shall  hear! 

There  is  joy  among  the  angels.     To  that  bright  company 
One  cometh  as  a  little  child — all  gladly  cometh  he! 
Our  Lord  hath  lifted  off  his  load,  hath  led  him  to  the 

light, 
And  happy   spirits,   welcoming,   lead    up   the   pathway 

bright. 
Now  shall  the  ransomed  poet  hear  the  choir  of  perfect 

song, 

The  grand,  eternal  story  he  hath  waited  for  so  long ! 
O  children !  ye  for  whom  he  wrought  his  lore  of  magic 

sway, 
In  grateful  thought  still  honor  him  the  Lord  hath  called 

this  day ! 


TROUBLED 

IF  it  were  not  for  fairies,  this  world  would  be  drear  ; 

(I  'm  sure  they  are  true, —  heigh-ho!) 

The  grass  would  not  tangle, 

The  bluebells  would  jangle, 

The  days  would  be  stupid  and  queer,  you  know, 
And  everything  dull  if  the  fairies  should  go. 

(I  'm  sure  they  are  true, —  heigh-ho!) 

I  love  to  believe  in  the  godmothers  mice, 
And  Hop-o'-my-Thumb,  heigh-ho  ! 
And  it  's  cruel  in  Willy 
To  call  me  a  silly. 

If  brothers  would  only  be  nice,  you  know, 
Not  tease  and  make  fun,  all  my  troubles  would  go, — 
I  'd  believe  in  the  fairies  forever, —  heigh-ho ! 


THE  FARMER  WHO   BECAME   DRUM-MAJOR 

Peggy  and  Meggy  tell  the  story  in  their  own  icay, 
OUR  father  worked  upon  a  farm, 


He  wore  a  linen  smock  ; 
Meggy:   'T  was  gathered  to  a  yoke  on  top, 
And  hung  down  like  a  frock. 

Peggy  :    Oh,  he  was  very  meek, 

And  mother  used  to  scold  him, 
Meggy:   And  he  would  always  do 

Exactly  what  we  told  him,  — 
Peggy  :        Ex-actly  what  we  told  him. 


THE   FARMER  WHO  BECAME  DRUM-MAJOR        187 

Meggy :   His  shoulders  had  a  little  stoop 
Which  mother  tried  to  cure: 

Peggy:    She  used  to  say  his  shambling  walk 
She  scarcely  could  endure. 

Meggy:   But  he  played  the  fiddle  well, 

And  sang  on  Sunday  sweetly; 

Peggy :    He  beat  the  time  for  all. 

And  knew  the  tune  completely, — - 

Meggy :       Yes,  knew  the  tune  eom-pletely. 

Peggy :    When  mother  called,  "  Come,  John  ! " 
he  came, 

And  smiling  chopped  the  wood; 
Meggy:    He  drew  the  water,  swept  the  path, 

And  helped  her  all  he  could. 

Peggy:    He  used  to  romp  with  Meg  and  me, 
Meggy :       Yes,  and  with  Polly  Wentels, 
Peggy  :    But  oh,  my  sakes  !     That  was  before 

He  put  on  regimentals! 
Meggy  :       Yes,  put  on  regimentals ! 

Peggy  :    For,  oh,  a  big  militia-man, 

One  evening  after  tea, 
Meggy:    Came  in  and  coaxed  our  father  dear 

To  join  his  company. 

Peggy :    For  men  were  very  scarce 

That  summer  in  our  village, 


188        THE  FARMER  WHO  BECAME  DRUM-MAJOR 

Meggy:   And  so  they  all  prepared 

They  said  for  war  and  pillage. 
Peggy  :        Just  think  !  for  war  and  pillage  ! 

Meggy  :   Well,  after  that  he  dropt  the  smock, 
He  stood  up  stiff  and  straight; 

Peggy:    And  when  we  called  for  wood  and  things, 
We  always  had  to  wait. 

Meggy  :   Still,  he  was  rather  meek, 

And  mother  still  could  scold  him  ; 

Peggy  ;    He  nearly  always  did 

Exactly  what  we  told  him,  — 

Meggy:       Ex-actly  what  we  told  him. 

Peggy:    But  soon  he  had  a  big  mustache, 
He  stalked  about  the  farm; 

Meggy:   He  went  to  drill  three  times  a  week, 
And  could  n't  see  the  harm. 

Peggy:    At  last  he  told  our  mother 

A  thing  that  did  enrage  her. 

Meggy  :  "Rid-dic-w-lus  !  "  she  said, 

"  For  you  to  be  drum-major  !  " 
For  Mm  to  be  drum-major  ! 


Meggy  :  He  wore  a  splendid  soldier  coat, 
He  bore  a  mighty  staff; 

Peggy  :  But  oh,  he  lost  his  gentle  ways, 
And  would  n't  let  us  laugh. 


THE  FARMER  WHO  BECAME  DRUM-MAJOR        189 

Meggy :   He  grew  so  very  fierce 

He  soon  began  to  scold  us, 

Peggy :    And  then  we  had  to  do 

Exactly  what  he  told  us ! 

Meggy:       Ex-actly  what  he  told  us! 


Peggy:    We  used  to  run  and  hide  away- 
Meggy  :        You  did  —  not  I,  dear  Peg ! 
Peggy :    Why,  yes,  you  often  did  it,  too, 
Now  don't  deny  it,  Meg ! 

Meggy:   He  scared  us  'most  to  death, 
He  walked  just  like  a  lion; 

Peggy :    And  when  he  coughed  out  loud 
He  set  us  both  a-cryin'! 

Meggy  :       Yes,  set  us  both  a-cryin' ! 


190        THE  FARMER  WHO  BECAME  DRUM-MAJOR 

Peggy :    He  would  n't  play,  he  would  n't  work, 
The  weeds  grew  rank  and  tall; 

Meggy :   The  pumpkins  died ;  we  did  n't  have 
Thanksgiving  Day  at  all. 

Peggy :    The  farm  is  spoiled.     It  is  n't  worth. 
Ma  says,  a  tinker's  wager. 

Meggy :   Now,  was  n't  it  a  dreadful  thing 
For  him  to  turn  drum-major? 

Sot li :      A  savage,  awful,  stark,  and  stiff 
Ridiculous  drum-major ! 


COURTESY 

A  PRETTY  little  boy  and  a  pretty  little  girl 

Found  a  pretty  little  blossom  by  the  way; 
Said  the  pretty  little  boy  to  the  pretty  little  girl: 
"  Take  it,  O  my  pretty  one,  I  pray  !  " 

Said  the  pretty  little  girl  to  the  pretty  little  boy: 
"I  must  hold  my  Sunday  bonnet,  sir,  you  see; 
So,  I  thank   you   very  kindly,  but   I  'd  very  much 

prefer 
You  should  carry  it,  and  walk  along  with  me." 


191 


MAY   BLOSSOMS 

"  GOOD  MORROW  ! "  Spring  said  to  us  all, 
When  boisterous  winds  were  blowing; 
But  now  it  's  "Good  day!"  for  it  '&  May  — 
And  never  a  morrow  can  come  this  way 
More  fair  and  blithe  than  a  day  in  May, 
Or  brighter  than  this  that  is  going. 

Now  is  she  not  lovely  and  true? 
And  is  she  not  wise  and  knowing! 
If  it  were  not  for  her,  why,  what  would  they  do 
The  things  that  are  ready  for  growing! 
So  good  day  to  us  all !  for  it  7s  May, 
And  never  a  morrow  can  come  this  way 
More  tender  and  fair  than  a  sweet  May  day, 
Whatever  way  she  be  going. 

192 


EIGHT   GOOD   THINGS   ABOUT   DOBBIN 

DOBBIN  never  would  do  us  harm, 
Dobbin  takes  us  over  the  farm ; 
Dobbin  follows  us  when  we  call; 
Dobbin  never  will  let  us  fall. 
Dobbin  is  white  as  the  whitest  snow, — 
Dobbin  shows  even  at  night,  you  know. 
Dobbin  is  patient,  steady,  and  kind; 
Dobbin  can  teach  us  children  to  mind. 

Whether  it 's  "  Whoa !  Dobbin, 
Dear  old  Dobbin/' 

Or  "Go!  Dobbin, 

Dear  old  Dobbin," 

Dobbin  will  mind,  as  a  matter  of  course; 
But  everybody  can't  be  a  horse. 

Hey,  Dobbin? 


193 


SIDE   BY   SIDE 

"What  is  the  little  one  thinking  about? 
Very  wonderful  things,  no  doubt." 

WHAT  are  the  old  folks  thinking  about? 
Very  wonderful  things,  no  doubt. 
A  thought  like  this  filled  the  baby's  head 
(A  wonderful  baby,  and  very  well  bred). 
He  gazed  at  grandpa,  and  grandma  too ; 
And  mirrored  the  pair  in  his  eyes  of  blue, 
As  side  by  side  they  sat  there,  rocking  — 
He  with  his  pipe,  and  she  with  her  stocking. 

And  the  baby  wondered,  as  well  he  might, 
Why  old  folks  always  were  happy  and  bright 
And  he  said  in  his  heart 
With  a  blithe  little  start 
That  showed  how  gladly  he  'd  act  his  part : 
"  I  '11  find  some  baby,  as  soon  as  I  can, 
To  stay  with  me  till  I  'm  grown  an  old  man, 
And,  side  by  side,  we  'tt  sit  there,  rocking  — 
I  with  my  pipe,  and  she  with  her  stocking.'7 


194 


A   SMART   BOY 

I  'M  glad  I  have  a  good-sized  slate, 
With  lots  of  room  to  calculate. 
Bring  on  your  sums !     I  ?m  ready  now. 
My  slate  is  clean;  and  I  know  how. 
But  please  don't  ask  me  to  subtract, 
I  like  to  have  my  slate  well  packed; 
And  only  two  long  rows,  you  know, 
Make  such  a  miserable  show; 
And,  please,  don't  bring  me  sums  to  add; 
Well,  multiplying  's  just  as  bad ; 
And,  no,  1 7d  rather  not  divide  — 
Bring  me  something  I  have  n't  tried! 

195 


SEVEN  LITTLE  PUSSY-CATS 

SEVEN  little  pussy-cats,  invited  out  to  tea, 
Cried :  "  Mother,  let  us  go.     Oh,  do  !  for  good 

we  711  surely  be. 
We  '11  wear  our  bibs  and  hold  our  things  as 

you  have  shown  us  how  — 
Spoons  in  right  paws,  cups  in  left  —  and  make 

a  pretty  bow; 
We  ?11  always  say,  i  Yes,  if  you  please,'  and  '  Only  half 

of  that.'" 

Then  go,  my  darling  children,"  said  the  happy  Mother 
Cat. 

The  seven  little  pussy-cats  went  out  that  night  to  tea, 
Their  heads  were  smooth  and  glossy,  their  tails  were 
swinging  free ; 

196 


SEVEN   LITTLE   PUSSY-CATS  197 

They  held  their  things  as  they  had  learned,  and  tried 

to  be  polite; — 
With    snowy  bibs  beneath   their   chins  they  were  a 

pretty  sight. 
But,  alas  for  manners  beautiful,  and  coats  as  soft  as 

silk! 
The  moment  that  the  little  kits  were   asked  to  take 

some  milk 
They  dropped  their  spoons,  forgot  to  bow,  and  —  oh, 

what  do  you  think  ? 
They  put  their  noses  in  the   cups  and  all  began  to 

drink ! 
Yes,  every  naughty  little  kit  set  up  a  "  me-ouw ! "  for 

more, 
Then  knocked  the  tea-cup  over,  and  scampered  through 

the  door. 


13* 


ELEVEN  LITTLE   PUSSY-CATS 

ELEVEN  little  pussy-cats  invited  out  to  dine. 
Eleven  little  bowls  they  found,  all  waiting  in  a  line; 
Eleven  little  me-ows  they  gave,  eleven  little  purrs, 
Eleven  little  sneezes,  too,  though  bundled  in  their  furs, 
Eleven,  after  soup  was  served,  stood  close  around  a  dish, 
Eleven  shyly  picked  the  bones  of  'leveii  bits  of  fish. 
Eleven  courses,  I  am  told,  composed  this  rare  repast, 
Eleven  bits  of  catnip,  too,  when  cream  came  on  at  last  ; 
Eleven  times  they  licked  their  paws  when  all  the  cream 

was  out, 
Eleven  times  they  bobbed  their  heads  and  said  Ji  was 

so,  no  doubt. 
Eleven  times  they  thought  they  heard  the  squeaking  of 

a  mouse. 

Eleven  times  apologized  to  the  lady  of  the  house ; 
Eleven  softly  purred,    "  Good-by ;  we  Ve  had  a  lovely 

time ! " 
Eleven   scampered   home   again.      So   ends   this   simple 

rhyme. 


JACK  AND   JILL 

LONG,  long  ago,  a  Mother  said 

Unto  her  children  small: 
"  Now  Jack  and  Jill,  go  up  the  hill — 

And  see  that  you  don't  fall. 
Fetch  me  a  pail  of  water  back, 

And  hurry  with  a  will.'7 

"  Oh,  no,  mama,"  said  lazy  Jack. 

"  Oh,  yes,  mama,"  said  Jill. 

The  Mother  frowned  an  angry  frown; 

They  went  as  she  directed  — 
Alas,  she  saw  them  coming  down 

Sooner  than  she  expected! 
You  know  the  story,  children  all?  — 

If  Jack  had  scorned  to  grumble, 
Perhaps  he  7d  not  have  had  that  fall, 

And  made  his  sister  tumble. 


200 


IN  HASTE 

SAID  a  Turtle :  "  Pray  pardon  my  haste  ; 

I  have  n't  a  moment  to  waste  j 

Do  you  see  that  big  sign 

Where  the  gentlemen  dine? 

Do  you  note  that  it  mentions  to-day  f 

When  my  head  is  well  out 

I  know  what  I  'm  about ; — 

My  motto  is  HASTE  AND  AWAY  ! " 


202 


SOAP-BUBBLES 

FILL  the  pipe! 

Gently  blow; 
Now  you  '11  see 

The  bubbles  grow! 
Strong  at  first, 

Then  they  burst, 
And  then  they  go 

To  nothing,  O ! 


203 


THE  PAMPERED   POODLE 

THERE  was  once  a  little  poodle,  who  so  lost  his  self- 
respect, 

That  his  honest  tail  refused  to  do  his  wagging. 
"For  in  truth"  —  the  tail  continued  —  "I   cannot  but 

object 
To  the  petting  he  submits  to,  and  the  nagging. 

204 


THE  PAMPERED  POODLE 


205 


"  I  scorn  to  wag  for  any  dog  who  cannot  gnaw  a  bone 

Without  whining  for  a  nurse  to  come  and  chop  it, 
And  who  sits  all  day,  be-ribboned,  like  a  puppet  on  a 

throne, 
And  I  '11  never  wag  again  if  he  don't  stop  it. 

"  What  with  bibs,  and  bows,  and  baskets,  and  mummery 

forlorn, 

And  laziness,  and  nonsense,  he  7s  a  noodle ! 
And,  now  you  know  my  reasons,  can  you  wonder  that 

I  scorn 
To  wag  for  so  ridiculous  a  poodle?" 


MASTER  THEODORE 


(Old  Nurse's  Story.) 

ITTLEBAT  TITMOUSE  THEODORE 
VAN  HORN 
Was  the  prettiest  baby  that  ever  was 

born. 
I  bathed  him  and  fed  him  and  taught 

him  "  Bo-peep," 
Rocked  him  and  trotted  him,  sang 

him  to  sleep. 

Then  I  bade  him  good-by,  and  crossed  the  wide  sea, 
And  it  rolled  twenty  years  'twixt  that  baby  and  me; 
Till  at  last  I  resolved  I  would  cross  the  blue  main 
And  hug  my  own  precious  wee  baby  again. 

Well,  that  old  ship  creaked,  and  that  old  ship  tossed, — 
I  was  sure  as  I  lived  that  we  all  should  be  lost, — 
But  at  last  we  saw  sea-gulls,  and  soon  we  saw  land; 
And  then  we  were  in;  and  —  if  there  did  n't  stand 
My  own  blessed  baby!     He  came  there  to  meet  me! 
Yes,  when  we  all  landed,  he  hastened  to  greet  me ! 

206 


MASTEK   THEODORE  207 

And  wonder  of  wonders  !  that  baby  had  grown 
To  be  bigger  than  I,  and  he  stood  all  alone ! 

"  Why,  Nursey ! "  he  said  (he  conld  talk,  think  of  that !), 
As  he  bowed  like  a  marquis  and  lifted  his  hat. 

"  Ah,  how  did  you  know  your  old  Nursey  ?     Oh,  my ! 
You  've  changed  very  much,  and  no  wonder,"  says  I ; 
When  I  spied  of  a  sudden  his  mother,  behind, — 
Sweet  lady!     She  7d  helped  him  his  Nursey  to  find. 
And  he  told  me,  right  there,  he  'd  a  sweet  little  wife 
And  I  should  live  with  them  the  rest  of  my  life. 

So  I  'm  here,  and  right  happy.     You  just  ought  to  see 
The  dear  little  fellow  who  sits  on  my  knee. 
He  has  beautiful  dimples  and  eyes  like  Mama, 
And  his  nose  and  his  chin  make  you  think  of  Papa. 
Ah,  me !     He  's  a  beauty !     There  never  was  born 
A  lovelier  babe  than  this  latest  Van  Horn. 


FORBIDDEN 

"KEEP  off  the  Grass!"  the  sign-board  said; 

And  children  turned  away, 
Wondering  sadly  why  the  grass 
Objected  to  their  play. 

The  Summer  sped;  in  time  the  snow 

In  circling  flurries  came, 
And  hid  the  grass,  although  the  board 

Protested  still  the  same. 

"  Keep  off  the  Grass ! "    'T  was  plain  as  day  j 

And  birds  who  came  along, 
Pausing  in  wonder,  cocked  their  heads, 
And  hushed  their  chirpy  song. 

"  What  's  that  ?  what  does  it  mean  ? "  they  asked 

And  one  bird  twittered  low: 
"  The  Summer  must  be  buried  here ; 

Oh,  comrades,  let  us  go!" 


14 


TEN  LITTLE  DOLLS 

TEN  pretty  little  dolls  are  we 

As  happy  as  the  day, 

Black  and  white,  short  and  tall, 

Grave  and  grand  and  gay; 

Ten  pretty  dolls  all  waiting  here,- 

Who  will  come  and  play? 

Come  and  take  us,  little  maidens, 

Ere  we  run  away. 


210 


JACK'S  WISH 

IF  a  pretty  fairy  should  come  to  me, 
And  ask:  "What  thing  would  you  like  to 
I  'd  say :  "  On  the  whole, 
I  will  be  a  mole." 
Oh,  that  would  be  just  the  thing  for  me ! 

I  7d  go  straight  down,  and  not  care  a  fig 
What  squirming  things  in  the  ground  I  'd  meet; 

For  if  I  were  a  mole,  I  'd  dig  and  dig 
Till  my  nose  should  tickle  the  Chinamen's  feet! 


211 


A  DUTCH  FAMILY 

?ERE  's  all  our  leetle  vamily  — 

Myzelf  and  zisters  two. 
Big  Rychie's  eyes  don't  open  vide, 

And  leetle  Katzie's  do. 

Katzie  's  zo  zlow  and  plump-y ! 

And  Rychie  's  grown  zo  tall! 
But  all  the  zense  she  has  n't  got 

You  vood  not  miss  at  all. 

Ve  'd  be  a  vunny  vamily 

If  it  vos  not  for  me  ; 
For  I  7m  the  only  boy  ve  have, 

And  zmartest  of  the  three. 
212 


LITTLE  MISS  KITTY 

DEAR  little  Miss  Kitty 

Was  going  to  the  city, 

And  feared  she  might  be  late; 

So  she  called  to  a  man : 

Oh,  sir,  if  you  can, 

Please  tell  those  cars  to  wait!" 


14* 


213 


"THE  WORTHY  POOR" 

A  DOG  of  morals,  firm  and  sure, 
Went  out  to  seek  the  "  worthy  poor." 
"  Dear  things ! "  she  said,  "  I  711  find  them  out, 
And  end  their  woes,  without  a  doubt." 

She  wandered  east,  she  wandered  west, 
And  many  dogs  her  vision  blest, — 
Some  well-to-do,  some  grand  indeed, 
And  some  —  ah!  very  much  in  need. 


"THE  WORTHY  POOR"  215 

So  poor  they  were !  —  without  a  bone, 
Battered  and  footsore,  sad  and  lone; 
No  friends,  no  help.    "  What  lives  they  Ve  led, 
To  come  to  this ! "  our  doggie  said. 

"  I  should  not  give  to  them ;  I  7m  sure 
They  cannot  be  the  worthy  poor. 
They  must  have  fought  or  been  disgraced ; 
My  charity  must  be  well  placed." 

Some  dogs  she  found  quite  to  her  mind ; 
So  thrifty  they  —  so  sleek  and  kind! 
"  Ah  me ! "  she  said,  "  were  they  in  need, 
To  help  them  would  be  joy  indeed." 

'T  was  still  the  same,  day  in,  day  out, — 
The  poorest  dogs  were  poor  no  doubt; 
But  they  were  neither  clean  nor  wise, 
As  she  could  see  with  half  her  eyes. 

'T  is  strange  what  faults  come  out  to  view 
When  folks  are  poor.     She  said :  "  'T  is  true 
They  need  some  help;  but  as  for  me, 
I  must  not  waste  my  charity." 

So  home  she  went,  and  dropped  a  tear, 
"  I  Ve  done  my  duty,  that  is  clear. 
I  Ve  searched  and  searched  the  village  round, 
And  not  one  'worthy  poor'  I  Ve  found." 


216  "THE  WORTHY  POOR" 

And  all  this  while,  the  sick  and  lame 
And  hungry  suffered  all  the  same. 
They  were  not  pleasant,  were  not  neat  — 
But  she  had  more  than  she  could  eat ! 

O  ye  who  have  enough  to  spare ! 
To  suffering  give  your  ready  care; 
Waste  not  your  charitable  mood 
Only  in  sifting  out  the  good. 

For,  on  the  whole,  though  it  is  right 
To  keep  the  "  worthy  poor n  in  sight, 
This  world  would  run  with  scarce  a  hitch 
If  all  the  rich  were  the  worthy  rich. 


JINGLE 

A  BLACK-NOSED  kitten  will  slumber  all  the  day; 
A  white-nosed  kitten  is  ever  glad  to  play; 
A  yellow-nosed  kitten  will  answer  to  your  call; 
And  a  gray-nosed  kitten  I  would  n't  have  at  all ! 


AFTER  TEA 

YES,  '  somewhere,  far  off  on  the  ocean, 

A  lover  is  sailing  to  me; 
A  beautiful  lover!     Nurse  found  him 

One  night  in  my  cup,  after  tea. 

Whenever  the  cruel  wind  whistles, 
I  think  of  that  ship  on  the  sea, 

And  tremble  with  terror  lest  something 
May  happen,  quite  dreadful  to  me. 

And  then,  when  the  moon  rises  softly, 
I  hardly  can  sleep,  for,  you  see, 

217 


218 


AFTER   TEA 


I  know  that  its  beautiful  splendor 
Is  lighting  my  lover  to  me. 

But  oh,  if  he  should  come !     Why,  Nursey, 
I  ?d  hide  like  a  mouse.     Deary  me ! 

What  nonsense  it  is !     But  you  should  n't 
Be  finding  such  things  in  my  tea. 


THE    SPRINT   RUNNER 

"  LEARNING  ?    What  7s  the  use  of  learning  f  " 
Johnny  cried,  his  lesson  spurning. 

"  As  for  me,  1 7d  rather  run ! " 
So,  from  morn  to  set  of  sun, 
Johnny's  legs  were  never  still  5 
He  could  distance  Bob  and  Bill, 
Jim,  and  Tom,  and  Dick,  and  Peter, 
Not  a  youth  in  town  was  fleeter. 

Grammar,  algebra,  and  history 
Glimmered  in  a  hazy  mystery, 
School  terms  softly  sped  away, 
While  he  sprinted  day  by  day, — 
Week  by  week,  and  through  vacation. 
Then  his  friends  in  desperation, 
Vowed  the  boy  was  not  for  knowledge, 
So  they  sent  him  off  to  college. 


219 


FUN  AT   GRANDMAMA'S 

ONE  Christmas  day  at  Grandmama's,  we  all  dressed  up, 

for  fun  5 
And  sat  in  a  line  and  called  them  in  to  look  when  we 

were  done. 
We  never  laughed  a  single  time,  but  sat  in   a   solemn 

row. 
Tommy  was  Queen  Elizabeth,  and  Jane  wore  an  Alsace 

bow. 
Freddy  was  bound  to  be  a  nun  (though  he  did  n't  look 

it  a  bit !) 
And  Katy  made   a  Welsh-woman's  hat  and  sat  down 

under  it. 
Sister  was  Madame  de  Maintenon,  or  some  such  Frenchy 

dame  5 

And  Jack  had  a  Roman  toga  on,  and  took  a  classic  name. 
As  for  poor  me,  I  really  think  I  came  out  best  of  all, 
Though  I  had  n't  a  thing  for  dressing  up,  'cept  Dinah's 

bonnet  and  shawl. 
Well,  Grandma  laughed,  and  Grandpa  laughed,  and  all 

admired  the  show, — 
I  wish  I  'd  seen  us  sitting  there,  so  solemn,  in  a  row! 


THE  KNOWING   LITTLE  FISH 

"  AHEM  !  now  we  are  ready !  "  said  a  knowing  city  chap, 
As  he  flung  his  hook,  well  baited,  and  heard  it  strike 

"kerflap!" 
"This  cloudy  day  is  just  the  one;  the  game  is  sure  to 

bite. 

I  '11  have  a  jolly  basketful  to  show  the  folks,  by  night." 

222 


THE  KNOWING  LITTLE  FISH 


223 


And    "  Ha !    ha  !    ha ! "  laughed  the  happy  little  fish, 
"  Now  we  are  safe  and  cozy  as  any  one  could  wish ! 
For  we  know  about  that  funny  thing  that  lives  upon 

the  land, 
And  we  're  not  the  fools  he  takes  us  for,  he  '11  please 

to  understand." 


THE  BEES   THAT  WENT  TO   THE   SKY 

FUZZY  Wuzz,  Buzzy  Wuzz,  Zipperty  Flop, 
All  flew  up  to  the  cherry-tree  top. 
"  Pooh  ! "  said  Buzzy  Wuzz,  "  this  is  n't  high  ! 
Let  us  keep  on  till  we  reach  the  sky." 

Upward  they  went,  and  they  never  would  stop  — 
Fuzzy  Wuzz,  Buzzy  Wuzz,  Zipperty  Flop; 
"Ah,  how  jolly!"  they  started  to  say — 
When  ev'ry  one  of  them  fainted  away ! 

The  next  they  knew  they  were  down  on  the  ground, 
Three  dizzy  bumblebees,  frightened  but  sound ; 
Never  a  mortal  had  heard  them  drop  — 
Fuzzy  Wuzz,  Buzzy  Wuzz,  Zipperty  Flop. 

Humbled  and  tumbled,  and  dusty  and  lamed, 
Would  n't  you  think  they  'd  have  been  quite  ashamed? 
But  "  No,  sir,"  they  buzzed,  "  it  was  n't  a  fall  • 
We  only  came  down  from  the  sky,  that  's  all." 

224 


THE  BEES   THAT   WENT   TO  THE   SKY  225 

And  now,  whenever  you  see  three  bees 

Buzzing  and  pitching  about  by  your  knees, 

You  '11  know,  by  their  never  once  venturing  high, 

They  're  the  very  same  bees  that  flew  up  to  the  sky ! 


LITTLE   CHARLEY 

WHAT  is  coming?     Something  bright. 
It  fills  the  doorway  with  its  light; 
It  thrills  the  room  with  music  sweet 
Of  laugh  and  prattle  and  little  feet; 
It  makes  it  bloom  like  a  garden  bed 
With  white  and  blue  and  yellow  and  red ; 
It  covers  the  wall  with  pictures  made 
Of  every  moment's  light  and  shade,, 
And  heightens  all  the  sunlit  air 
With  dancing  eyes  and  flowing  hair, 
Bidding  our  hearts  sing  out  with  joy  — 
And  yet  it  ?s  only  a  little  boy, 
Only  our  little  Charley. 


15 


THE  WINDMILL 

SAID  a  hazy  little,  mazy  little,  lazy  little  boy : 
"  To  see  the  windmill  working  so  must  every  one  annoy  ; 
It  can  be  stopped,  I  'm  sure  it  can,  and  I  should  like 

to  know 
What  in  the  world  can  ever  make  a  windmill  want  to 

go?" 

226 


THE  WINDMILL 


227 


Said  a  quizzy  little,  frizzy  little,  busy  little  girl : 
"What  can  be  more  delightful  than  to  see  a  windmill 

whirl  ? 
It  loves  to  go,  I  7m  sure  it  does,  and  hates  to  hang 

kerflop  j 

Now  what  on  earth  can  ever  make  a  windmill  want 
to  stop?" 


HAPPY  JOHNNY;  OR,  TAKING  LIFE 
CHEERFULLY 

I  'M  an  excellent  lad,  so  the  family  say, 
Because  I  find  cheer  in  the  gloomiest  day; 
For  deep  in  my  heart  is  this  mirthful  refrain, 
To  drive  away  trouble,  and  cure  every  pain : 
Tra-la-la,  tra-la-la, 
Tra-la-la-la-la. 

I  've  a  damp  little  room  where  I  slumber  aloof, 
Where  the  thunder  comes  down,  and  kicks  on  the  roof, 
And  the  spooks  slip  in  with  a  merry  glide, 
And  coyly  startle  me  where  I  hide. 
Tra-la-la,  tra-la-la,  , 
Tra-la-la-la-la. 


HAPPY  JOHNNY  229 

The  bats  fly  in,  and  the  light  goes  out, 
And  the  social  burglar  prowls  about — 
Or  I  think  he  does  —  till  I  jump  up  quick, 
And  find  he  does  n't,  which  makes  me  sick ! 
Tra-la-la,  tra-la-la, 
Tra-la-la-la-la. 

The  winter  is  full  of  the  sport  I  love  best, 
If  it  were  n't  for  the  fact  of  a  delicate  chest. 
And  in  summer,  beside  every  daisy  and  tree 
Malaria  always  is  waiting  for  me. 
Tra-la-la,  tra-la-la, 
Tra-la-la-la-la. 

Now,  fellows,  if  all  of  you  happy  would  be, 
Just  prize  your  good  luck,  and  be  guided  by  me. 
Instead  of  " boo-hoo "-ing,  just  try  a  " ha-ha!" 
And  go  through  the  world  singing  tra-la-la-la, 
Tra-la-la,  tra-la-la, 
Tra-la-la-la-la. 


15* 


A  SANTA  CLAUS  MESSENGER-BOY 

GOOD  MORROW,  my  lads  and  lasses ; 

Good  morrow,  kind  people  all ! 
I  7m  bidden  by  dear  old  Santa  Glaus 

To  make  you  a  little  call. 

And,  knowing  your  gracious  courtesy, 

I  leave  you  a  card  to  say: 
"Remember  the  little  ones  of  the  poor 
On  the  bountiful  Christmas  Day!77 


SNOWFLAKES 

WHENEVER  a  snowflake  leaves  the  sky, 
It  turns  and  turns  to  say  "  Good-by ! 
Good-by,  dear  clouds,  so  cool  and  gray ! " 
Then  lightly  travels  011  its  way. 

And  when  a  snowflake  finds  a  tree, 
"  Good  day  ! "  it  says  —  "  Good  day  to  thee  ! 
Thou  art  so  bare  and  lonely,  dear, 
I  '11  rest  and  call  my  comrades  here." 

But  when  a  snowflake,  brave  and  meek, 
Lights  on  a  rosy  maiden's  cheek, 
It  starts  —  "  How  warm  and  soft  the  day  ! 
'T  is  summer  ! " —  and  it  melts  away. 


231 


CALLING  THE  FLOWERS 

THE  wind  is  shaking  the  old  dried  leaves 

That  will  not  quit  their  hold, 
The  sun  slips  under  the  stiffened  grass 

And  drives  away  the  cold. 

Child  Franca  carries  the  dinner-horn 

To  summon  home  the  men  5 
She  raises  it  high  for  a  ringing  blast, 

But  silent  it  falls  again. 

"  The  men  on  the  hill  are  hungry,  I  know, 

They  've  been  working  for  hours  and  hours; 
But  first  I  will  blow  a  soft  note,  if  I  can, 
To  call  out  the  sweet  little  flowers. 

"  For  the  flowers  and  buds  are  dear  little  things, 

And  must  not  be  frightened  at  all, 
So  pray  you  be  gentle,  you  noisy  old  horn ! — 
Perhaps  they  will  come  if  I  call. 

232 


CALLING  THE  FLOWERS 


233 


"  Blow  high  for  the  blossoms  that  live  in  the  trees, 

And  low  for  the  daisies  and  clover  • 
But  as  soft  as  I  can  for  the  violets  shy, 
Yes,  softly  —  and  over  and  over." 


t^;;;.. 


PHILOPENA 


ALL  day  the  Princess  ran  away, 
All  day  the  Prince  ran  after  j 

The  palace  grand  and  courtyard  gray 

Rang  out  with  silvery  laughter. 
"What,  ho!"  the  King  in  wonder  cried, 

"What  ails  our  Princess  Lena?" 
"Your  Majesty,"  the  Queen  replied, 

"  It  is  the  Philopena. 

Our  royal  daughter  fears  to  stand 

Lest  she  take  something  from  his  hand; 

The  German  Prince  doth  still  pursue, 

And  this  doth  cause  the  sweet  ado." 

234 


A  PHILOPENA 

Then,  in  a  lowered  voice,  the  King: 
"  I  '11  wage  he  bears  a  jewelled  ring. 
Our  guest,  the  Prince,  is  brave  and  fair; 
They  7d  make,  methinks,  a  seemly  pair ! " 

But  still  the  Princess  ran  away, 
And  still  the  Prince  ran  after, 

While  palace  grand  and  courtyard  gray 
Bang  out  with  silvery  laughter. 


235 


THE  MAN  WHO  DID  N'T  KNOW  WHEN  TO  STOP 

A  VERY  fair  singer  was  Mynheer  Schwop, 
Except  that  he  never  knew  when  to  stop; 
He  would  sing,  and  sing,  and  sing  away, 
And  sing  half  the  night  and  all  of  the  day  — 
This  "pretty  bit"  and  that  " sweet  air,v 
This  "  little  thing  from  Tootov&re." 
Ah!  it  is  fearful  the  number  he  knew, 
And  fearful  his  way  of  singing  them  through. 
At  first,  the  people  would  kindly  say : 
"Ah,  sing  it  again,  Mynheer,  we  pray" — 
(This  "  pretty  bit,"  or  that  "  sweet  air," 
This  "little  thing  from  Tootovfcre"). 
They  listened  a  while,  but  wearied  soon, 
And,  like  the  professor,  they  changed  their  tune. 
Vainly  they  coughed  and  a-hemmed  and  stirred; 
Only  the  harder  he  trilled  and  slurred. 
At  last,  in  despair,  and  rather  than  grieve 
The  willing  professor,  they  took  their  leave, 
And  left  him  singing  this  "sweet  air," 
And  that  "  pretty  bit  from  Tootovere  "  j 


HE  DID  N'T  KNOW  WHEN  TO  STOP 


237 


Until  the  host  turned  down  the  light, 

With  "  Thanks,  Mynheer  !  Good  night !  good  night ! " 

My  moral,  dear  singers,  lies  plainly  a-top: 
Be  always  obliging,  and  willing  —  to  stop. 
The  same  will  apply,  my  dear  children,  to  you ; 
Whenever  you  Ve  any  performing  to  do, 
Your  friends  to  divert  (which  is  quite  proper,  too), 
Do  the  best  that  you  can  —  and  stop  when  you  're 
through. 


THE   OREGON  EXPRESS 

ALL  aboard  for  Oregon! 
Fayelle,  Gertrude,  Charley,  John, 
Kern,  and  Emily — Dolly  too; 
Frank,  the  dog,  has  joined  the  crew. 
Don't  you  hear  the  whistle  blow? 
That  's  to  start  the  train,  you  know. 
Kern,  the  daring  engineer, 
Brave  and  quick,  scorns  every  fear. 
Ding,  dong!  clear  the  track! 
There  >s  a  cow !     They  >11  have  to  back ! 
Soon  they  're  at  the  signal-bar, 
And  a  wicker  parlor-car — 
Baby  KarPs  —  is  coupled  on. 
Now  they  7re  off  for  Oregon. 
"Tick — ets!"  shouts  Conductor  John. 


Home  again,  by  light  of  day; 
All  to  sup  with  Kern  and  Fay. 


.    HOW  WILLY'S   SHIP   CAME   BACK 

Witty,  our  'bonny  sailor. 

With  a  "  Hi-ho  !  "  and  a  "  Heave  away  !  " 
Witty,  our  would-be  whaler, 
"Oho,  lads,  ho!" 

Ruddy  of  cheek  and  eager-eyed, 

Willy,  our  sailor  ~boy : 
Ship-builder  he  of  a  tiny  craft, 

Sear  him,  our  whaler  boy : 

"  My,  but  the  boat  was  a  beauty ! 

A  staver !     A  stunning  toy  ! 
And  all  by  myself  I  built  her." 
(Willy,  our  sailor  boy.) 

"  She  was  n't  more  than  a  handful, 

That,  sir,  I  don't  deny  $ 
But  she  went  on  a  voyage  of  wonder 
And  came  back  high  and  dry. 

"  She  sailed  from  the  pool  like  a  good  one, 
And  then  she  slipped  from  sight, 

239 


240  HOW  WILLY'S  SHIP  CAME  BACK 

Dipped,  in  a  flash,  and  was  gone,  sir!" 
(Willy,  our  midshipmite !) 

"  Then  up  she  rose  on  a  billow, 
And  sailed  till  I  lost  her  track  ; 

I  waited,  and  waited,  and  waited, — 

And  how  do  you  think  she  came  back?" 

Willy,  our  bonny  sailor, 

With  a  "Hi-ho!"  and  a  "Heave  away!" 
Willy,  our  would-be  whaler, 

II  Oho,   lads,  ho!" 

"I  heard  a  frisking  and  dashing, 

Soft  as  the  lightest  spray, 
A  tittering  crowd  came  splashing 
To  the  cool  rock  where  I  lay. 

"  Up  I  sprang  in  a  hurry. 
Oh,  but  I  saw  a  sight! 
Six  queer,  bright  little  faces, 
Dripping  and  merry  with  light. 

"  They  were  mermaids,  sure  as  I  'm  living, 

Bringing  my  boat  to  me, 
That  mite  of  a  boat;  —  now  I  ?m  giving 
The  story  as  straight  as  can  be  ! 

"  They  clung,  their  bright  hair  streaming, 
Close  to  my  rock,  and  laughed; 


16 


242  HOW  WILLY'S  SHIP  CAME  BACK 

Now  why  do  you  think  I  was  dreaming? 
And  why  do  you  say  I  was  daft? 

"The  boat, —  where  is  it?  you  wonder? 

Well,  somehow,  before  I  knew, 
The  mermaids  and  boat  slipped  under, 
And  hid  in  the  waters  blue." 

Willy,  our  bonny  sailor, 

With  a  "Hi-ho!"  and  a  "Heave  away!" 
Willy,  our  bold  young  whaler, 
"Oho,  lads,  ho!77 


A  STIR  AMONG  THE  DAISIES 

PRETTY  Lill  of  Littleton  sauntered  through  the  grass; 
The  very  birds  and  butterflies  stopped  to  see  her  pass ; 
All  the  daisies  nodded  to  the  maiden  coming  by, 
And  leaned  across  the  pathway  left  behind  her. 
"Art    hurt  ? "  they  asked    each    other.      Each    gaily 

laughed,  "  Not  I ! 

We  bowed  too  lowj  but  really  we  don't  mind  her. 
To  see  so  fair  a  maiden  pass  has  really  quite  unstrung  us  j 
But  we  '11  straighten  up,  and  ready  be  when  next  she 
comes  among  us." 


243 


THE   LITTLE   KINDERGARTEN   GIRL 

IF  we  sew,  sew,  sew,  and  pull,  pull,  pull, 
The  pattern  will  come  and  the  card  be  full  5 
So  it  's  criss,  criss,  criss,  and  it  's  cross,  cross,  cross ; 
If  we  have   some   pleasant  work  to   do  we  're  never 
at  a  loss. 

244 


THE  LITTLE   KINDERGARTEN  GIRL  245 

Oh,    dear !       I  pulled    too    roughly  —  I    've    broken 

through  my  card. 

I  feel  like  throwing  all  away,  and  crying  pretty  hard. 
But  110,  no,  no, —  for  we  never  should  despair, 
So  I  11  rip,  rip,  rip,  and  I  '11  tear,  tear,  tear. 

There!  you  pretty  purple  worsted,  I  Ve   saved  you 

every  stitch 

(Because  if  we  are  wasteful  we  never  can  get  rich). 
Now  I  '11  start  another  tablet,  and  I  '11  make  it  perfect 

yet, 

And   Mother    '11  say,   "  Oh,  thank  you,  my   precious 
little  pet!" 


16* 


HOW  SHOCKING! 


MY  grandma  met  a  fair  gallant  one  day, 
And,  blushing,  gave  the  gentleman  a  daisy. 

Now,  if  your  grandma  acted  in  that  way, 

Would  you  not  think  the  dear  old  soul  was  crazy? 
0  —  h,  Grandmama! 

And  then  the  gentleman  bent  smiling  down, 

And  told  my  grandma  that  he  loved  her  dearly; 

And  Grandma,  smiling  back,  forgot  to  frown, 
—  Ah,  Grandpa  nods  !     So  he  recalls  it  clearly  ? 
0  —  hj  Grandpapa! 


246 


"LITTLE   POT   SOON  HOT" 

FUME  and  fury!     I  have  cause 
To  tear  about  and  break  the  laws. 

But,  on  the  whole,  1 7d  better  not ; 
"  Little  pots  are  soon  hot." 

Little  souls  slights  discover  5 
Big  souls  pass  ?em  over. 

Big  souls  bear  their  trouble- 
Little  souls  sizz  and  bubble. 

Little  souls  oft  ferment; 
Big  souls  are  content. 

Big  souls  tumble  slowly; 
Little  souls  —  roly  poly! 

Big  souls,  like  as  not, 
When  it  7s  fitting,  do  get  hot. 

But  "little  pots"  all  grandeur  spoil. 
1 11  think  a  bit  before  I  boil ! 


247 


THE   BICYCLE   BOYS 


OH,  the  bicycle  boys, 
The  bicycle  boys! 
They  care  not  for  tops 
Or  babyish  toys  5 
They  're  done  with  their  hobbies 

And  that  sort  of  play, 
As  mounted  on  nothing 
They  're  off,  and  away ! 


u 


Oh,  the  bicycle  boys, 

The  bicycle  boys! 
They  travel  along 
Without  any  noise. 
They  travel  so  softly, 
They  travel  so  fast, 
They  always  get  somewhere, 
I  'm  told,  at  the  last. 


THE  BICYCLE  BOYS 


249 


III 

They  race  with  each  other, 

They  race  with  a  horse, 
All  sure  they  will  beat 

As  a  matter  of  course ; 
And  often  they  win, 

And  often  they  fall;  — 
Then  "down  comes  bicycle, 

Boy,  and  all!" 


LITTLE   ROSY  RED-CHEEK 

LITTLE  Rosy  Red-cheek  said  unto  a  clover: 
"  Flower,  why  were  you  made  ? 

I  was  made  for  mother, 

She  has  n't  any  other  j 
But  you  were  made  for  no  one,  I  'm  afraid." 

250 


LITTLE  ROSY  RED-CHEEK  251 

Then  the  clover  softly  unto  Eed-cheek  whispered : 
"  Pluck  me,  ere  you  go." 

Red-cheek,  little  dreaming, 
Pulled,  and  ran  off  screaming, 
"  Oh,  naughty,  naughty  flower,  to  sting  me  so ! " 

"  Foolish  child ! "  the  startled  bee  buzzed  crossly, 
"Foolish,  not  to  see 

That  I  make  my  honey 
While  the  day  is  sunny ; 
That  the  pretty  little  clover  lives  for  me!" 


NOW  THE  NOISY  WINDS  ARE    STILL 

Now  the  noisy  winds  are  still 
April 's  coming  up  the  hill ! 
All  the  spring  is  in  her  train, 
Led  by  shining  ranks  of  rain : 

Pit,  pat,  patter,  patter, 

Sndden  snn,  and  clatter,  clatter!  — 
First  the  blue,  and  then  the  shower, 
Bursting  bud,  and  smiling  flower, 

252 


NOW  THE  NOISY  WINDS  AEE   STILL 

Brooks  set  free  with  tinkling  ring; 
Birds  too  full  of  song  to  sing; 
Dry  old  leaves  astir  with  pride, 
Where  the  timid  violets  hide, — 
All  things  ready  with  a  will, — 
April  7s  coming  up  the  hill ! 


253 


NOT   ONLY  IN  THE   CHRISTMAS-TIDE 

NOT  only  in  the  Christmas-tide 

The  holy  baby  lay  5 
But  month  by  month  his  home  he  blessed, 

And  brightened  every  day. 

Each  season  held  its  light  divine, 

Its  glow  of  love  and  cheer; 
For  Christ,  who  lived  for  all  the  world, 

Was  part  of  all  the  year. 


254 


IN  TRUST 

IT  's  coming,  boys, 

It  ;s  almost  here ; 
It  7s  coming,  girls, 

The  grand  New  Year! 
A  year  to  be  glad  in, 
Not  to  be  bad  in, 
A  year  to  live  in, 
To  gain  and  give  in  • 
A  year  for  trying 
And  not  for  sighing ; 
A  year  for  striving, 
And  hearty  thriving  j 
A  bright  New  Year, 
Oh!  hold  it  dear 5 
For  God,  who  sendeth, 
He  only  lendeth. 


255 


GENERAL  LIBRARY 
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